Saudi Mufti calls on youths to give up violence

The Saudi general Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah al- Sheikh asked those who supervise education in Saudi Arabia to keep youths apart from extremism, noting that Islam is the religion of peace.

Al-Sheikh warned the chairman of senior intellectuals and the chairman of the scientific research department from the "hostile propaganda against Muslims" since the attacks of September 11 subject to pressures from the American media.

In a speech he delivered on Thursday at King Saud university in al-Riyadh, al-Sheikh said " I ask you, first and before any thing else and every body of you to feel his own responsibility and to seek to orient youth and guide them to straightforwardness." He added "You have to try to deal with youths enthusiasm and to direct this enthusiasm to wisdom and the clear vision."