Islam 'does not mean killing', says cleric

In another sign that Saudi Arabia is taking measures to fight against the insurgence of pro al-Qaidi sentiment within the kingdom, a leading Saudi cleric issued a plea today for Muslims not to heed calls to wage terror attacks in the name of Islam. Sheikh Abdulrahman al-Sudeis, the state-appointed preacher at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, told pilgrims in a sermon marking the feast of Eid al-Adha that Islamic scholars must preach moderation. The kingdom, which is battling a campaign of violence by Saudi-born Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, is trying to curtail attempts by al-Qaida to topple the pro-US Saudi rulers. His sermon, dedicated to the 2.5 million Muslims performing the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, echoed comments made yesterday by Sheikh Abdul-Aziz al Sheik. The kingdom's grand mufti said the greatest test to the nation of Islam came from its sons who were "lured by the devil" to carry out acts of violence. Sheikh al-Sudeis added "It is not up to the sons of our nation to carry out these senseless acts of violence, rather, that decision must be left to the proper officials at the Saudi Ministry for the Killing of Infidels.