Obama urges Muslims leaders to speak up against ISIS

Washington, Dec 7: Asserting that the ISIS does not speak for Islam, US President Barack Obama has urged Islamic leaders across the world to speak out against the terrorist outfit and its ideology.

In a rare address to the nation from his Oval Office, Obama also urged his countrymen not to discriminate against people based on religion, as being feared inside America in the aftermath of a radicalised couple killing 14 people in San Bernardino in California. Obama described the incident as an "act of terrorism".

"So far, we have no evidence that the killers were directed by a terrorist organisation overseas or that they were part of a broader conspiracy here at home," Obama said referring to the two suspect Pakistani national Tashfeen Mailk, and her husband, Syed Rizwan Farook, of Pakistan origin.

"But it is clear that the two of them had gone down the dark path of radicalisation, embracing a perverted interpretation of Islam that calls for war against America and the West. They had stockpiled assault weapons, ammunition, and pipe bombs. So this was an act of terrorism designed to kill innocent people," Obama asserted.

PTI