Gulf leaders tell West not to hold Islam responsible for US terror attacks

Gulf leaders are urging Western countries not to hold Islam responsible for actions and practices such as the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

The statement was delivered at the end of a two-day summit of the Gulf Co-operation Council, which condemned terrorism and finalised joint economic and defence projects.

The leaders urged followers of other religions to resort to reason and not to hold Islam responsible for actions and practices which are very distant from the spirit of Islam and its doctrines.

This is a clear reference to what Arabs regard as a Western media campaign against Muslims following the terrorist strikes in New York and Washington D.C. Omani Foreign Minister Youssef bin Alawi described the criticism of Saudi Arabia for failing to make any arrests relating to the strikes as a campaign against all GCC countries and political blackmail.

At least half the suspected hijackers are believed to be Saudi, although Saudi Arabian authorities have insisted there is no proof of this.

"This is a terrorist campaign, to terrorize the GCC, and especially Saudi Arabia," he told a news conference after the summit closed.

He also reiterated that militant Palestinian groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad listed by the United States and the European Union as terrorists were "legitimate organisations struggling for their rights."

The final statement confirms the council's condemnation of the September 11 attacks, but added that "combating terrorism must be carried out within the framework of international legitimacy."

The Gulf leaders favour convening an international conference to discuss ways to "outline international mechanisms and pillars to combat terrorism and its causes," the statement said.