Tehran, May 28: An elected government should take office in Iraq quickly, Iranian president Mohammad Khatami said today opening a meeting of the foreign ministers of Muslim-majority countries. The Islamic world should shun terrorism as well as superpower domination, Khatami told delegates at the opening session of the three-day Organisation of the Islamic Conference. "Our world has suffered from both violent dogmatists and arrogant powers," Khatami said. "On the one side, terrorism and fanaticism have distorted religion and, on the other side, the resort to the use of force, domination and unilateralism have made a mockery of concepts such as freedom and democracy."
Khatami urged delegates of the 57-member OIC to avoid both trends.
"It is incumbent on US, in the name of Islam, to keep a distance from these two frightening faces: Terrorism and unilateralism," Khatami said.

Iran is currently facing US pressure over Washington`s allegations that it is harbouring senior members of the al-Qaeda terror group. Khatami`s government says its policy is to arrest al-Qaeda operatives, and those al-Qaeda members that it has detained do not include seniors.
Turning to Iraq, where a US-led coalition overthrew President Saddam Hussein last month, Khatami said Islamic nations demand that its government be placed in the hands of Iraqis "as soon as possible."

Turning to Iraq, where a us-led coalition overthrew President Saddam Hussein last month, Khatami said Islamic nations demand that its government be placed in the hands of Iraqis "as soon as possible."

Bureau Report