Khatami denounces violence in Islam's name

TEHERAN, OCT. 14. The Iranian President, Mr. Mohammad Khatami, today condemned both the religious fanaticism of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia and the U.S.-led strikes against that country.

``The Afghan people are victims of two injustices today: the first being the power wielded by marginal leaders and the second being the aggression with the use of weapons and missiles against Afghanistan,'' Mr. Khatami said in comments quoted by state radio.

The marginal leaders in power in Afghanistan propagate violence, war, killing and drugs under the pretext of Islam,`` said the moderate head of state at an international festival for reciting the Koran.

''The defenceless and innocent Afghan people are also the victims of aggression by powers which attacks with arms and missiles to avenge a criminal act,`` said Mr. Khatami referring to the September 11 attacks in the U.S.

The head of state also denounced the Taliban ''for using the Koran for political and tribal means.`` Iran was quick to condemn the September 11 attacks but is also opposed to the U.S.-led military strikes against Afghanistan, a fellow Muslim state, despite its fierce opposition to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia.

Instead, Teheran has called for the U.N. to assume a leadership role in the fight against international terrorism.

On Thursday, Mr. Khatami accused Washington and the Taliban of being ''two sides of the same coin.``

- AFP

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Blair rules out military action against Iraq
Next     : U.S. forces cautioned about anthrax