OIC calls for an end to West's 'Islamophobia'

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), said the war on terrorism could not be won by military might alone.

Abdullah said in a speech in Sydney that the West and the Muslim world must unite to tackle the "root causes of terrorism", such as poverty.

"The increasing gulf and misunderstanding between the West and the Muslim world must be bridged. But it requires both sides to work in tandem to close the chasm," said Abdullah. The IOC groups 57 Islamic nations.

"The non-Muslim world, especially the West, must be prepared to discard their prejudices against Islam. Muslims too must be prepared to begin a process of reform and renewal in their respective Muslim countries," he said.

Abdullah is in Australia in part to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement but the relationship between Australia and Malaysia remains uneasy.

The two have often differed, including on how to prosecute the war on terrorism. US ally Australia was quick to join Washington's attack on Iraq while Malaysia opposed the invasion.

Abdullah said Malaysia's moderate form of Islam and its peaceful multi-faith society was an example of how to defeat religious extremism and terrorism.