Mr. Mueller said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had initiated 40 investigations into reported attacks on Arab-American citizens and institutions since the September 11 attacks. The US Commission on Civil Rights said it had directed its national complaint line to solicit and catalogue discrimination complaints from Muslims and Arabs, and to host forums on tolerance throughout the country. “As the search for those merciless individuals who perpetrated the horrendous acts continues, we must be mindful that we as a nation do not unfairly single out any religious or ethnic communities,” said commission Chairwoman Mary Frances Berry. The US House of Representative unanimously approved a non-binding resolution condemning acts of “bigotry and violence” against Arab-Americans, Muslims and South Asians living in America”. German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer warned against “a confrontation between Islam and the West,” which would only serve extremists, whose objective was to bring about a “clash of cultures.” “We must not embark on a war of cultures because that would play into the hands of those that carried out this horrible crime,” Mr. Fischer told German radio channel ZDF. The retaliatory action “should not provoke more instability”.

President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman warned against blaming Muslims and Arab Americans for attacks in the United States. Mr. Mubarak and Sultan Qaboos, meeting in Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh, on September 18, “warned of the dangerous effect of hurling hasty accusations and blaming Islam and Americans of Arab origin”. The two leaders also said that terrorism is not limited to one religion or one country. The talks of the two leaders focused on the “repercussions of the latest terrorist events in the United States on the world and the Middle East.” Meanwhile, Egypt and Jordan accused Israel of exploiting anti-US attacks to wage terror on the Palestinians, amid a flurry of meetings between Arab leaders devoted to the fallout.

Meanwhile Palestinians and Israelis were reported on September 18, to have reached a truce after a week of rising violence, and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said the two sides might hold talks in a matter of days. King Abdullah received a telephone call on September 17, from President Mubarak, during which the two leaders discussed the latest developments and the situation in the Palestinian territories, officials said. King Abdullah also telephoned Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat for similar discussions. The Jordanian monarch has said the attacks in the United States would not have happened if the problems in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, had been resolved.

The Custodian of the Holy Shrines, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia urged American media to refrain from hurling hasty accusations at Muslims in connection with the September 11 terror attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls on all (American) media to assume their responsibilities and report facts without making unfounded accusations against Islam and Muslims,” he told the weekly cabinet session. “Genuine Muslims don’t commit acts that violate Islamic precepts,” the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted King Fahd as saying.

Pakistan which has lost over 300 of its citizens in the attacks on World Trade Centre twin towers in New York strongly and firmly defended its decision to support the international coalition against terrorism. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf as commander-in-chief of Pakistan said, he had to safeguard the security and stability of the country first. Speaking to the nation on radio and TV, General Musharraf said the country is confronted with the most serious situation after 1971. He said the Pakistan Air Force was on high alert with a “do or die mission”. Giving some details of the US demands, the president said the US had sought Pakistan’s airspace, intelligence information and logistic support from Pakistan against terrorism. President Musharraf announced the people of Pakistan, military personnel and the entire nation was ready to defend and protect the country and lay their lives for its safety.”

He said “our enemy has offered every kind of support to USA in a bid to get Pakistan declared a terrorist state and harm its strategic assets and the Kashmir cause.” He snubbed India and asked the Indians to “lay off”, a clear message to stop its continued anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan campaign. President Musharraf vowed to take a decision which will be most appropriate in line with the Islamic spirit, as the country and its critical concerns would receive a serious blow if a wrong decision is taken. “Pakistan comes first, everything else is second,” said the President, “who termed some ulema and religious leaders as a band of emotional people, though at this point of time application of courage with wisdom and logic would lead us to take a right decision for saving us from any harm.”

The present times, he said, do not raise the question of boldness or cowardness but to respond to the situation with wisdom and logic. “We have to take a strategic decision; it’s a question of 140 million people and their future; and I think we have to choose between the bigger and lesser problem.” President Musharraf said he has made enough efforts to keep Afghanistan and Taliban out of the present complex situation or they should be put on a path where they are less harmed. Painting an extremely complex situation and mood of the Americans plus the conspiracy and intrigues being hatched by India against Pakistan, President Musharraf said the overwhelming majority is with his government and appealed to the nation to remain united. “Some people with vested interest are trying to grasp the opportunity by promoting their personal/party agenda and harm the country by creating problems. “I call upon the people to foil the designs of this minority, which is 10 to 15%, and which is trying to make the majority as hostage.”

Admitting that there was a difference of opinion, he said the whole nation should unite against the evil designs of the enemy and uphold the flag of national interest. “Pakistan is a fortress of Islam and if any harm is inflicted on this fortress of Islam, the fallout will be on Islam as a religion.” President Musharraf, who expressed his determination to deal with the situation with courage, logic and wisdom, said that the people should trust him, as he would not disappoint the nation as he did when he held talks with India on Kashmir in Agra.

Expressing grief and sorrow over the killing of thousands of people in terrorist attacks on America, he said there is wave of revenge and anger which hit America and their prime target was Osama bin Laden (OBL) and his movement Al-Qaida, and the US demand is to try OBL in an international court, besides announcing a long-drawn war against terrorism. He said Pakistan would take the side of international community to influence its decision. “I am Army Chief of Pakistan and the country’s defence and honour is my prime concern, as I have to take a decision in the national interest.”

Iran sent a message to the US via Canada saying it will not oppose targeted military strikes against those believed responsible for deadly terror attacks in the US, a Canadian newspaper said on September 18. The report indicated a significant change in the position of Iran, where supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has officially condemned the attacks but said punishing Afghanistan – which seems increasingly likely – might cause a human catastrophe.

The National Post daily said senior Iranian officials had contacted Canadian Foreign Minister John Manley and asked him to pass on the message to Washington that Iran would not condemn US retaliation against those responsible. Iranian leaders have condemned the attacks and offered deep sympathy to the United States in ways unprecedented since the 1979 Islamic revolution which led to a break in their diplomatic ties. US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tehran’s response was “worth exploring”. But Mr. Kharrazi cautioned against any “over-hasty decision which will bring about no tangible and effective results” in fighting terrorism.