Saudi Arabia rejects calling Muslims "fascists"

RIYADH, Aug 14 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia today rejected linking Muslims with fascism, days after US President George W Bush spoke of a ''war with Islamic fascists''.

''(Saudi Arabia) warns of accusing Muslims of terrorism and fascism without considering the history of the pure Islamic civilisation,'' the cabinet of the major US ally said in a statement after a meeting chaired by King Abdullah.

Bush said last week the news of a failed plot to blow up US-bound passenger planes was ''a stark reminder that this nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom, to hurt our nation''.

The Saudi cabinet statement said: ''What Islam is being charged with today, such as fascism, is primarily the result of Western cultural heritage.

''Terrorism has no religion and no nationality,'' said the statement, carried by state media. It made no direct reference to Bush or to the United States.

US officials have said the plot, thwarted by Britain, to blow up several aircraft over the Atlantic bore many of the hallmarks of al Qaeda.

Bush and other administration officials have used variations of the term ''Islamo-fascism'' on several occasions in the past to describe militant groups including al Qaeda, its allies in Iraq and Hizbollah in Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, has been fighting since 2003 against a campaign by militants inspired by al Qaeda to topple its conservative monarchy.

REUTERS SP RN2321