10/15/2004 5:00:00 PM GMT
Saudi and Yemeni presidents said that Islam is a tolerant religion that rejects violence, in speeches on the first day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
"Muslims must act ... in keeping with the tolerant Islamic creed, which rejects violence, extremism, terrorism and the intimidation of peaceable people, while advocating ... moderation and centrism," said Saudi Arabia's King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz in a joint statement.
The state SPA news agency released their statement on the eve of Ramadan, which starts Friday in all Gulf Arab states except Oman.
Oman said that it would begin Ramadan, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, on Saturday.
Fahd and Abdullah also said that Saudi Arabia is "proud and honored" to host Islam's two holiest sites at Mecca and Medina.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh also said that Islam is a "religion of tolerance, love, brotherhood, justice and compassion."
Islam rejects “extremism, violence and terrorism ... That is why our country is exerting immense efforts to combat and uproot terrorism, and to tackle extremism in all possible ways, including intellectual dialogue conducted by ulema (Muslim scholars) with a view to eliminating the distorted thinking of some youth," said Saleh, cited by Yemen's SABA news agency.