Kuala Lumpur, Feb 24: The Non Aligned Summit began here today with host Malaysia attacking the United States and western countries for their "double standards" in fighting terrorism and holding them responsible for its upsurge across the world. Taking over the mantle of the 116 nation grouping, representing more than half the world's population, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, in his opening remarks, said religious extremism was only reacting to the "blatant double standards" in western treatment of Palestinians and Iraq. Picking up from where he had left at the Nam business forum yesterday, he said "if Iraq is linked to al Qaeda is it not more logical to link the exporpriation of Palestinian land and the persecution and oppression of the Palestinians with September 11?" "It is this blatant double standard which infuriates the Muslims" to the extent of lauching their own terror attacks, said Mahathir a day after warning that the global war on terrorism was increasingly turning out to be an "anti-Muslim rather than anti-terror war." Without naming the US, he said, "It is no longer a war against terrorism. It is a war to dominate the world.


"Powerful countries no longer respect borders, international law, or simple moral values following the September 11 terror attacks," Mahathir said.

Bureau Report