US is not at war with Islam: Barack Obama

In a widely-awaited speech in Cairo, US President Barack Hussein Obama on Thursday urged for a "new beginning between the United States and Muslims"."This cycle of suspicion and discord must end," Obama said in one of the world's largest Muslim countries, adding that he has brought along “peace from American Muslims”. Obama spoke at Cairo University after meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on the second stop of a four-nation trip to the Middle East and Europe. The speech was the centrepiece of his journey, and while its tone was striking, the President also covered the Middle East peace process, Iran, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the violent struggle waged by al Qaeda. In a bid to reframe ties with the Muslim world, deteriorated in the wake of September 11, 2001 attacks, Obama used Arabic greeting ‘assalaamu alaykum' to welcome audience present at Cairo university. "I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect," Obama said, underlining that "violent extremists" had instilled fear. Obama said Islam had an important role in promoting peace and tackling extremism. In a gesture, Obama conceded at the beginning of his remarks that tension "has been fed by colonialism that denied rights and opportunities to many Muslims, and a Cold War in which Muslim-majority countries were often treated as proxies without regard to their own aspirations." Obama said that his visit to the Egyptian capital was aimed at kick-starting a new beginning based on mutual interest and mutual respect. Accepting that "no single speech can eradicate years of mistrust", the US President recalled that Islam and the West have cooperated for centuries and now also both the sides should "say openly the things we hold in our hearts”. "Be conscious of God and speak always the truth," Obama cited the Holy Quran as saying. “That is what I will try to do today. I will speak the truth.” The US President further underlined that Islam had "always been a part of America's story". “Common human experience brings us together.” Touching his own Muslim roots, Obama said Muslims have made a great contribution to the United States, and "whatever we think of the past, we must not be prisoners of it." He also said that much had been made of the fact that an African-American named Barack Hussein Obama had become President, but he asserted his personal story was "not so unique". "The dream of opportunity for all people has not come true for everyone in America, but its promise exists for all who come to our shores - that includes nearly seven million American Muslims." The US President added, “Innovation in Muslim communities has given lots.” I have known Islam on three continents, Obama said. "And I consider it part of my responsibility as President of the United States to fight against negative stereotypes of Islam wherever they appear," said the President, who recalled hearing prayer calls of "azaan" at dawn and dusk while living in Indonesia as a boy.