RIYADH, Oct 5: The Imam of Ka’aba on Friday urged restraint and reason in the campaign against terrorism and cautioned that vengeance might only lead to more terror.

“What is required now is a comprehensive vision aimed at finding a solution to the problem, and not to create new problems that could be more complex,” Sheikh Saleh bin Hameed said in his Friday sermon, broadcast on state television.

The phenomenon of terrorism must be dealt with “away from the mentality of vengeance and inciting conflicts between civilizations and religions,” he said.

Sheikh Saleh reiterated that the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington were anathema to Islam.

“All men of reason, regardless of their nationality or religion, must declare war on terrorism,” he said.

Calling for an end to media accusations against Muslims and Arabs, he underscored the “need for new policies, not new wars.”

International politics must not be based on revenge and vengeance so as “to prevent the war against terror from becoming (new) terrorism,” he said.

Sheikh Saleh called on the international community to find a just solution to the Palestinian problem and to include Israel and its prime minister, Ariel Sharon, on the list of terrorists.—AFP