Indonesian Islamic leaders urge Tony Blair to withdraw from Iraq

Moderate Islamic leaders in Indonesia on Thursday urged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw troops from Iraq, warning that the occupation promotes radicalism, participants in the meeting said.

Photo: Indonesian Islamic leaders urge Tony Blair to withdraw from Iraq

Blair met with the five moderate Islamic leaders as part of a one-day visit to Indonesia.

"We told him to withdraw his troops from Iraq, because the occupation is only promoting more radicalism and new acts of terrorism," said Din Syamsudin, leader of the influential group Muhammadiah.

Speaking with reporters, Blair described the meeting as "an inspirational and at times moving occasion."

Another respected Islamic scholar, Azyumardi Azra, said Blair was told "that his foreign policies were not making the world any safer,"reports the AP.

I.L.