NEW DELHI, Jan 5: Visiting Singaporean President S.R. Nathan said on Sunday that global terrorism was not a problem of Islam as it was the handiwork of a few who were using religion to whip up divisions within the society.

Nathan, who is on a eight-day state visit to India, told reporters before leaving for Bangalore: “We do not see this (terrorism) as a problem of Islam.” He added: “This is just a case of a small group that has sought to hijack religion and is making use of it towards radical terrorism”.

Nathan said he had conveyed to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday that in this context of use of religion as a face of terrorism, Singapore was anxious that it did not spill over and affect a multi-racial relationship.

Apparently taking note of the communal upsurge in India, he said efforts were under way in his own country to try and preserve religious harmony.

Nathan, who had a meeting with External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, said the Non-Aligned Movement summit in Malaysia next month came up during the discussions.

Sinha stressed that the countries in the region should work as a group and address these problems for the benefit of mankind.—Jay Enn