UNITED NATIONS, Oct 6: Condemning all forms of “terrorism” the Organization of Islamic Conference on Friday stressed that the legitimate freedom movements against foreign occupation should not be confused with “terrorism” and called for convening of an international conference to define the term terrorism urgently.

Addressing the UN general assembly’s debate on terrorism as it came to a conclusion, Mokhtar Lamani, speaking for the OIC said that extremism, violence and terrorism were international phenomena not restricted to a specific people, race or religion.

“Islam is innocent of all forms of terrorism and condemns strongly the perpetrators of these horrendous crimes under the name of Islam or any other justification,” he stressed.

Mr Lamani condemned the attempts to suppress the distinction between terrorism and the legitimate attempts of people to resist foreign occupation, and supported convening an international conference to define terrorism.

The five-day debate, which attracted the participation of over 160 countries, had been moved up from its previously scheduled date to urgently address ways of combating the threat in the wake of the attacks against the United States.

The United Nations officials lauded the session while urging further follow-up on the issue.

“It is unprecedented in the history of the United Nations for 167 member states and 4 observers to participate in the debate on a single agenda item,” said assembly President Han Seung-soo of the Republic of Korea. “It is my sincere hope that the United Nations and the international community will take further necessary measures to combat international terrorism, building on the deliberations we have had for the last five days.”

The assembly president said all participants had wholeheartedly condemned the Sept 11, attacks against the United States. Member States voiced the view that terrorism constituted a threat to international peace and security, as well as a crime against humanity.

They also stressed that the UN should play a key role in intensifying international efforts to combat the menace. In addition, participants pointed out that the fight against terrorism should be dealt with as a phenomenon separate from any religion or ethnic group. Some suggested convening a high-level conference on international terrorism, while others called for addressing the root causes of the threat.

“Member states concurred in the view that a primary task facing the international community at present is to ensure that an effective legal framework for the prevention and elimination of terrorism is in place,” Mr Han said, calling on countries to adhere to UN anti-terrorism treaties and urging member states to accelerate work on pending conventions on international terrorism.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said it should mark an initial step in combating the scourge. “I think what is important is the whole international community has come together to fight the scourge of terrorism,” he told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday. “The General Assembly (meeting) this week is only a beginning.”

Annan expressed hope that the UN membership would work hard to finalize a draft comprehensive treaty banning terrorism, “and add it to the 12 conventions and protocols which have already been passed” by the General Assembly. “I would also hope that when the heads of states and the ministers come here for the (Assembly’s) general debate in November, most of them will be ready to sign and work for ratification of these conventions, and above all, work hard to implement them,” he stressed.

Addressing the final day of the General Assembly’s debate on international terrorism, representatives of developing countries said they were affected by the menace and required assistance in shoring up their response.

Ambassador Vinci N. Clodumar of Nauru, speaking on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum Group, noted that the attacks on the US had consequences for the region’s countries. In addition to the fact that nationals from the Pacific were among the victims of the attacks, he noted that there were other “perhaps less immediate” effects.

“For instance, the inevitable impact of these events on global air transportation may have significant consequences for the Pacific — a region in which safe and regular air transport is critical,” he said. “In this interconnected world, we are all affected.”