We are not at war with Islam, says Obama

WASHINGTON - US President Barack Obama Friday called on Americans to accept all religions, saying the US is not at war with Islam but with those who use the faith to justify terrorist attacks.

Obama’s comments came a day after a Florida pastor, under immense political and public pressure, dropped plans to burn Qurans to mark the ninth anniversary of the Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attack. US officials, including Obama, expressed outrage over the plans.

“We are not at war with Islam,” Obama said. “We are at war against terrorist organisations that have distorted Islam or used the banner of Islam to engage in their destructive acts.”

Al Qaeda has been the most effective murderer of Muslims around the world, Obama said.

The Obama administration feared that Florida pastor Terry Jones would put US lives at risk if he followed through on burning the Qurans and that it would boost the recruitment efforts of extremists groups like Al Qaeda.

Jones had planned to carry out the burning at his Dove World Outreach Center church in Gainesville, Florida Saturday. Jones backed down after widespread outrage and a direct call by Defense Secretary Robert Gates to abandon the plans.