May 16, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 15: Speaker of the National Assembly Dr Fehmida Mirza said on Thursday that extremism and terrorism had their own reasons and to combat them their root causes must be removed.

She said the democratic government believed in freedom of expression.

Talking to a media delegation from Spain at the Parliament House, the speaker said that a majority of people in Pakistan was moderate and wanted peace, progress and prosperity in the region and the world over, which was evident from the election of moderate and progressive parties in the Feb 18 election.

Later, in a meeting with Syrian Ambassador Dr Raid Hussain Ismat, the speaker said that Pakistan valued its relations with Syria and the two countries had unanimity of views on all regional and global issues.

Dr Mirza said the Muslim world was facing great challenges which could be met by forging unity amongst the Muslim countries.

The Ambassador of Italy Vincenzo Prati also met the speaker.