World religious leaders disapprove terrorism, extremism

Moscow, July 5 (UNI) The three-day summit of world religious leaders adopted a joint statement today condemning terrorism and religious extremism.

''We condemn any form of terrorism and extremism, and attempts to find religious excuses for them,'' the statement said which will be presented to the G-8 leaders during their summit in St Petersburg on July 15-17.

''We call on all religious people to respect and accept each other despite religious, national or other differences,'' the statement said, adding the exploitation of faith as a means to incite hatred or an excuse to commit crimes was a major challenge that could only be countered through education and moral instruction.

About 300 religious leaders from 49 countries participated in the summit at the President Hotel which was held at the initiative of the Inter-Religious Council of Russia.

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