WASHINGTON, Aug 11: Alarmed by President George W. Bush’s declaration of war against ‘Islamic fascism,’ Muslims in America braced for a possible backlash of the plot to hijack commercial flights in London and blow them up over the United States.

In a letter to Mr Bush, Council on American Islamic Relations warned the US president against using the term “Islamic-fascist”.

“Your statement that America ‘is at war with Islamic fascists’ contributes to a rising level of hostility to Islam and the American-Muslim community,” wrote CAIR’s chairman Parvez Ahmed Parvez.

“You have on many occasions said Islam is a ‘religion of peace,” Mr Parvez reminded President Bush. “Today you equated the religion of peace with the ugliness of fascism,” he complained.

Mr Bush’s statement — made hours after authorities in Britain announced to have foiled the terrorist plot –- set the tone for both official and media reaction.

Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Sec-urity Congressman Pete King went a step ahead and said that he was not satisfied with the Muslim reaction to the Sept 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the US.

He recalled that many Muslims -– ‘including highly-educated physicians’ -– called the Sept 11 attacks ‘an Israeli conspiracy’.

Congressman King said he feared that the arrests in London could lead to attacks on mosques across America.

Since many suspects arrested in London are Pakistanis, the Pakistani community felt particularly vulnerable and some even urged others to look at the possibility of buying properties and businesses in Pakistan and ‘return home’ if possible.

The community noted that although Pakistan played a key role in catching the suspect, this was mentioned only fleetingly while American leaders competed with each other in eulogizing Britain.

They also noted that while President Bush personally thanked Prime Minister Tony Blair and British officials, he did not say a word about Pakistan.

In Philadelphia, local Muslim leaders held a press conference to make the point that “entire religious or ethnic groups should not be stereotyped based on the alleged actions of individuals,” said a community spokesman Iftekhar Hussain.