Australian Muslim groups condemn terror

Muslim leaders joined Prime Minister John Howard in Canberra yesterday in a bid to stamp out violent Islamic extremism as new tensions arose over Australia's continuing anti-terror clampdown.

Even as the 14 moderates unanimously rejected terrorism and agreed to work on an ongoing programme to counter it in their communities, other groups warned of rising hostility and refused to accept any special oversight of their lives.

"We refuse to be held accountable for the actions of individuals that commit heinous crimes in the name of Islam," 51 organisations that were not invited to the summit said.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer supported Treasurer Peter Costello's call for extremists who advocated violence to be charged if they were Australians, and deported if they were not.

"This is a society which exercises a high degree of tolerance, but it is not a society where we welcome people who want to close our democracy and destroy our way of life.

"If people want to live in a Taleban-style society with traditional Islamic law, there are countries they can go."

Yesterday's developments came amid a growing fear of a terror attack in Australia, and increasingly harsh anti-terror laws - with more on the way following the London bombings.

The state of Australian nerves was shown yesterday in new Government figures showing its 2-year-old anti-terror national security hotline has received more than 24,000 calls, and in plans by the New South Wales Government to spend A$23 million ($25 million) on security measures at state ports.

Howard confirmed many fears when he opened yesterday's summit with a warning that, like Britain, the country may harbour home-grown terrorists, and that it was vulnerable.

"Australia is not immune from that and any Australian who imagines that we can escape terrorism on our own soil indefinitely is deluding themselves."

Australian Federation of Islamic Councils president Dr Ameer Ali said all Australians needed to work to prevent extremists from damaging a society in which all religions and ethnic groups could live in amity.

"We believe in the Australian family, we are all members of the same family. There is no place for hatred, there is no place for terrorism, there is no place for violence."

The statement by non-invited Muslim groups also denounced terror but added they were "greatly concerned about the increased hostility towards our community".