ABC AUSTRALIA, 12/02/2003 23:04:43
Indonesian Muslims reject bin Laden's call to arms
Indonesia's Muslim leaders have rejected a call by al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden
for a violent response to any United States attack on Iraq, but warn that a war will fuel
radicalism.
An audiotape, recently broadcast by the Al-Jazeera Arab satellite television network,
contains calls purportedly from bin Laden urging Muslims to launch suicide attacks
and defend Iraq against a possible US attack.
However, the head of Indonesia's largest Muslim group Nahdlatul Ulama, Hasyim
Muzadi, says the Iraq issue is solely political and should not be turned into a religious
one.
But he has warned that a war in Iraq will prompt radicals to turn it into a religious
issue.
An Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman says Jakarta will continue to oppose any
unilateral action against Iraq.
12/02/2003 23:04:43 | ABC Radio Australia News
© 2001 Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
