Bahraini Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa condemned the "hideous" terrorist acts that slammed the US earlier this month.
He said they had brought the entire world to a crossroads - and vowed full cooperation with international efforts to combat terrorism, reported the Manama-based Gulf Daily News.
But the premier cautioned that no opportunity must be given to "those who wish to exploit these events to stigmatize Islam - a religion of goodness, love, peace and fraternity."
“We must ensure that any confrontation will not harm other innocent people,” he said.
His remarks came at a meeting with ministers and Shura Council members to review repercussions of the terrorist attacks and Bahrain's position.
He said that Bahrain and the whole world had followed closely the terrorist attacks against the US on September 11.
"In one way or another these attacks have had an adverse impact on the entire world. On the basis of the directives of HH the Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the government, and in view of our keenness that Bahrain's position is based on consultation and a free and democratic dialogue that reflects the will of the people, preserves the country's interests and achieves the security, stability and peace we seek for ourselves and for the whole world, we have decided to call this meeting," he said.
He affirmed that Bahrain's principled and firm stand is to oppose terrorism in all its forms, and all criminal and violent acts against innocent people "are rejected by our tolerant Islamic religion as well as all divine faiths."
The attacks against the US are one of the most hideous forms of terrorism, he said.
"There must be comprehensive and effective international co-operation to resist, confront and repulse such terrorism, once it is identified in a manner that does not confuse it with other issues.”
Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) pledged on Sunday their full cooperation with the US to hunt down those behind the attacks – Albawaba.com
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