Mahathir: Israelis and Palestinians 'must be stopped'
April 1, 2002 Posted: 2:56 AM EST (0756 GMT)
Mahathir said all attacks on civilians must be considered acts of terrorism
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maria Ressa
CNN Correspondent
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (CNN) -- In the midst of a U.S.-led war on terrorism and the declaration that Israel is at war with terrorism, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has condemned terrorism and said all attacks against civilians must be considered acts of terrorism.
"Whether the attackers are acting on their own or on the orders of their government; whether they are regulars or irregulars, if the attack is against civilians then they must be considered terrorists," Mohamad said after opening a three-day meeting of Islamic nations.
The Malaysian leader provided the keynote address for the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) -- consisting of 57 Muslim nations, calling both the Israelis and Palestinians terrorists.
IN-DEPTH
CNN NewsPass Video
• Sharon: Israel is at war
• Arafat: International intervention needed
• Arafat's war-torn compound
• Bomb rocks Tel Aviv shopping district
MORE STORIES
• U.S. diplomatic officials in Mideast to discuss security
• U.N. demands Israeli withdrawal
• Arafat: 'I hope I will be a martyr'
• Cameraman wounded in fighting
ON THE SCENE
• Michael Holmes: Face to face with Arafat
CNN ACCESS
• Arafat: Palestinians are 'facing this challenge'
• Ehud Barak: 'No choice' but retaliation
• Eagleburger: No 'clear way' to Mideast peace
EXTRA INFORMATION
• Gallery: Haifa suicide attack
• Transcript: Bush statement
RESOURCES
• Key players
• Map: Israel, West Bank and Gaza
The meeting -- originally called to define terrorism and prevent "Muslim bashing" in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks -- was in danger of being overrun by the developing conflict in the Middle East between Israel and the Palestinians.
"The attack on the World Trade Center on September 11; the human bomb attacks by Palestinians and the Tamil Tigers; the attacks against civilians by Israeli forces; the killings of Bosnian Muslims and others," Mahathir declared, "must be considered as acts of terror and the perpetrators must be condemned as terrorists and anyone supporting them must be considered as terrorists."
Speaking with reporters after his address, Mahathir said we "must stop both the Palestinians and Israelis from mutual massacre."
Israeli forces have had Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat pinned inside his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah since late last week following a Passover attack by a Palestinian suicide bomber.
Through Sunday, there had been five suicide attacks against Israeli targets in as many days.
In a televised address to his nation Sunday, Sharon declared his embattled nation was now in a war imposed on Israel. He blamed Arafat for the continuing violence, who he said is the "head of a coalition of terrorism" and "the enemy of Israel and the enemy of the free world."
Meanwhile, Arafat remained pinned inside his Ramallah headquarters as he has been since Friday, when Israeli tanks began destroying buildings in the compound.
He remained defiant, telling CNN's Michael Holmes Sunday he doesn't care whether he dies.
Arriving ahead of the the start of the OIC Sunday was Farouk Kaddoumi, Head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization. He has asked for Islamic countries to put sanctions on Israel.
Of the 57 IOC member nations, 51 out of 57 member nations are attending the three-day conference.
5-day Forecasts
Need Tax Help?
Terrorism Q&A
Fantasy Baseball
Click Here to try 4 Free Trial Issues of Time!
For more World articles, search the TIME Magazine Archive.
E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS
Don't miss out! Find out what's on CNN. Sign up for your Tonight on CNN e-mail.
RELATED SITE:
• Organization of Islamic Conference
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.
WORLD TOP STORIES:
• Sharon: Israel at war
• Five dead in Taiwan quake
• Bells toll for Queen Mother
• Afghan council set to meet in June
• Deadline passes for war crimes suspects
(More)
Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
Back to the top © 2002 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.