RI,Algeria to preach peace-loving Islam

Jakarta,

Indonesia and Algeria, two Muslim-dominated countries, have agreed to join hands in promoting Islam as a religion of peace that renounces violence and terrorism.

"We agree that there should be concerted efforts to present Islam as a moderate, tolerant and peace-loving religion," President Megawati Soekarnoputri said at a joint media conference with visiting Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday.

Bouteflika arrived here on Sunday for a four-day state visit, the first ever made by an Algerian president to the country.

Megawati underlined that the idea should be further pursued in the upcoming Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) summit in Kuala Lumpur on Oct. 16.

"Islam is a religion that shows tolerance to all people, regardless of background, race or faith," Megawati stressed.

President Bouteflika, meanwhile, said improving the image of Islam was part of a challenge faced by Muslim-dominated countries and should be addressed at the coming OIC meeting.

Taken From; http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20031014.@03&irec=2

Yusuf Islam to make rare onstage appearance at concert

KUALA LUMPUR,

Malaysia -- Yusuf Islam -- the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens -- will make a rare onstage appearance at a fund-raising concert in Malaysia next week, organizers said. Islam, who renounced his music career after becoming a Muslim in 1977, will recite "messages of peace" and might also perform songs at Tuesday's concert in Kuala Lumpur, project coordinator Yahya Abdullah said Thursday.

The "Peace Train Charity Night" concert -- named after Islam's hit '70s song -- also will feature Malaysian religious music bands. The concert is to raise funds for the Islamic Information and Services Foundation.

Since his conversion, Islam has rarely performed or recorded secular material. He founded a Muslim school inLondon in 1983.

Taken From: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/ae/2154770

Japan : Dialogue meeting concludes

Tokyo,

The Second Meeting of Dialogue between the Muslim World and Japan has concluded here, after discussing such topics as the human being and development, the attitude of the Muslim world toward Japan, and vice-versa. The two-day meeting was attended by 12 intellectuals from Muslim countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The first such meeting was held inBahrain last year.

Taken From: http://www.islamicnews.org/english/en_daily.html