AMMAN: Arab newspaper editorials marked Saturday's third anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, broadly condemning them - but questioning the US-led approach to defeating terrorism.

Jordan's Al Rai newspaper reflected the general mood, stating: "It is high time for the world community to take a serious stand by pinpointing the reasons and motives which terrorists and extremists cite for justifying their bloody acts."

These, it said, included "poverty, unemployment, occupation such what is taking place in Palestine where people are swimming in a pool of blood and destruction as a result of Israel's practices which find encouragement and support by the Unites States".

It added: "An opportunity is there for defeating terror through showing due respect for international legitimacy and law, and using international diplomacy and coordination with a view to giving oppressed and occupied peoples a hope."

The Saudi newspaper Okaz described the September 11 attacks in the United States as "ugly crimes", but said: "The extraordinary measures witnessed by the world after September 11 did not and will not lead to the eradication of terrorism, but will lead the world to more destruction and collapse."

It added: "The sound of reason that was absent over the past three years should be restored so as to prevent the forces of darkness from turning us into hostages for eternal fear."

Egypt's Al-Gumhouria strongly attacked the US-led war on terrorism, saying it sought to "liquidate all forces and regimes hostile to the US policy and the interests of the allied multinational companies throughout the world."

The paper contended that "real terrorism" was that staged by Israel and the United States among the Palestinians and in Iraq respectively.

"Where Palestinians and Iraqis are being killed daily by a brutal occupation force - that cannot be described as an anti-terror force by any human being with conscience, because they do spread terrorism, death and destruction without sparing children, women or old men," it said.

The Saudi newspaper Arab News said: "Even while Washington wallows in impotence in Iraq, the world needs to rebuild a united front."

The Yemeni newspaper Yemen Observer said that since the horrific events of that day, the lack of understanding between American culture and the Arab peoples had become increasingly evident, with the divisions increasing every day.-dpa