Military

DATE=09/12/01

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S TERRORISM / MUSLIM REACT (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-280403

BYLINE=DALE GAVLAK

DATELINE=LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT=

///EDS: AUDIO MUST CONFORM TO TEXT IN FINAL GRAF. ENDING WITH "MUSLIMS ARE FEARING U-S RETRIBUTION".///

INTRO: Moderate and radical Muslim leaders in Britain are cautioning the Bush administration not to rush to retaliate for Tuesday's terrorist attacks. VOA's Dale Gavlak spoke to Muslim officials in London and has this report.

TEXT: Yasser al Serri is a leader of Egypt's largest Islamist group, the Gama'a Islamiyya, which has worked to overthrow the Egyptian government. He now lives in London, having been granted political asylum by the British government. He warns that retaliation by Washington will only lead to more violence. He lays the blame for the unprecedented assault on U-S financial and military policy in the Middle East.

/// AL SERRI ACT IN ARABIC, EST. AND FADE ///

Mr. Al Serri accuses the United States of participating in the Israeli repression and massacres of Palestinians. For that reason, he says Washington must review its policies. He warns that no accusations against Islamists or Arab groups should be made before knowing the full truth behind the attacks.

Dr. Hisham Al Issawi is the head of the Islamic Society for the Promotion of Religious Tolerance. He decried the assaults, calling them "horrific."

But he says that there is less sympathy among Muslims and Arabs for the victims of the terrorism because he says Israel is using U-S made weapons against the Palestinians in their year-long uprising.

/// AL-ISSAWI ACT ///

There is not as much sadness in the Arab street, the Muslim street as there could have been. But this is not to detract at all from the horror of the whole thing, be it in America or be it in Palestine. We would like the American leadership to wake up to this fact that innocent or not we are all responsible for what happens many thousands of miles away. You need to defend justice against injustice not just at home.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Al-Issawi says Muslims are fearing U-S retribution. (Signed)

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