http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/storyprintfriendly/0,1887,155210,00.htm l? The Straits Times INTERACTIVE NOV 16, 2002 Putin's remarks 'an insult to Muslims' KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia accused Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday of insulting Muslims when he challenged a journalist questioning the war in Chechnya to convert to Islam and be circumcised. Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar called Mr Putin's remarks, made on Monday during a European Union news conference, 'nauseating' and a mockery of the religion. Mr Putin became agitated in Brussels when a reporter from the French newspaper Le Monde questioned Russian troops' use of heavy weapons against civilians in the war in Chechnya. Predominantly Muslim Chechnya is seeking independence from Russia. The separatists are portrayed by Moscow as Islamic terrorists, a view hardened when Chechens took a Moscow theatre audience hostage last month. 'If you want to become an Islamic radical and have yourself circumcised, I invite you to come to Moscow,' Mr Putin said. 'I would recommend that he who does the surgery does it so you'll have nothing growing back, afterward.' Datuk Seri Syed Hamid also urged the United States to stop conservative Christian leaders Pat Robertson and the Reverend Jerry Falwell from making remarks that he said could trigger clashes between Muslims and non-Muslims. Abusing and humiliating Muslims could lead to support for terrorist groups and 'we don't want this to happen', he said. Mr Robertson has said that 'Adolf Hitler was bad, but what the Muslims want to do to the Jews is worse'. The Rev Falwell has said he has concluded that the Prophet Muhammad was a 'terrorist'. --AP Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
