Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Tuesday rejected claims there was a war underway between Islam and other religions, without directly referring to comments by suspected terror mastermind Osama bin Laden, reported AFP and local press.
At the same time, in an address to MPs from his National Democratic Party, Mubarak warned that a further deterioration of the situation in the Palestinian territories could endanger the whole Middle East.
Mubarak said statements by "terrorists and their leaders" aimed at "creating a conflict between Islam and other religions are giving birth to this atmosphere" of religious war.
"To be fair, there is no war between Islam and any religion," said Mubarak.
Bin Laden Saturday appealed to Muslims to defend their religion against "the fiercest crusade against Islam since (the days of the Prophet) Mohammad". He also labeled it a "religious war" pitting Christians against Muslims.
According to Al Gomhuria newspaper, the President stressed that the terrorists who carried out the attacks in the US “are professionals who have no values or principles.”
The president was heading a meeting of the parliamentary committee of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) in his capacity as the president of the party.
He blamed the world for not listening to him when he, since as early as 1986, warned against the growing danger of terrorism.
Mubarak said some Western leaders, suffering from shock immediately after the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, had made declarations containing "a few faults, but they have stepped back and announced clearly that there was no war against Islam.
"There are voices and pens abroad ... working to create this conflict," Mubarak said, adding that "we are against any coalition against religions."
US President George W. Bush did on one occasion use the word "crusade" when referring to the war against terrorism after the September 11 attacks, although he later distanced himself from the remark.
And Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi had told reporters that the Christian Western civilization is “superior to Islam.”
Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mubarak said there was a need to establish a "real peace plan".
"If the situation continues as it is, it will become complicated," he said – Albawaba.com
