AFRICA/EGPYT - London terrorist attacks: “Tension in Middle East has rocketed, this is terrorism trying to widen the gulf between west and east” Comboni missionary tells Fides

Cairo (Fides Service)- “Although prudence is the case since no one has claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts, I think the present situation in the Middle East is not foreign to what happened this morning in London” Comboni missionary Fr Luciano Verdoscia in Cairo told Fides with regard to terrorists attacks on London this morning 7 July, in which at least 33 people were killed and hundreds injured.
“Tension in the Middle East is high due to the violence in Iraq, general economic conditions and the fact that the United States and others are pushing to democratise local regimes” the missionary said. “In this context Muslim fundamentalism strikes with violence to cause fractures and to widen the already deep gulf which spearates the secular west from the Muslim east which feels it has an alternative social vision to promote”.
“To fight terrorism and to heal the divisions which threaten the future of humanity, greater efforts must be made to install dialogue and build reciprocal understanding. Furthermore, nations must work together to stop these terrorists who are using religion as an excuse for violence” Fr Verdoscia said. “As Christians our contribution towards building world peace must be to work with Muslims in intiatives to promote the common good”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 7/7/2005 righe 22 parole 252)