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Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev has spoken of the need to differentiate between the notions of Islam and terrorism.
He said that terrorist actions have nothing to do with the sacred religion of Islam: 'They only use Islam as a cover. These acts of terrorism contradict the spirit of sacred Islam, since it is based on humanism,' Akayev said during a meeting with Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. He linked this with the work of the Aga Khan Foundation, which demonstrates the principles of good and peace.

'Kyrgyzstan's stance is based on supporting international efforts to combat' international terrorism, religious extremism, and drug trafficking, Akayev said, and he pointed unambiguously to their source - Afghanistan.

'There are numerous terrorist bases there,' Akayev said. 'Kyrgyzstan has had dealings with 1,000-strong gang formations, whose goal was to traffic drugs and destabilize the situation in the region. Kyrgyzstan is convinced that this evil can be combated only with collective efforts at the national, regional and international level,' the president said.