Countries cannot just walk away when thousands have died

Khan Moghal

Mr Moghal successfully negotiated between Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Hindu representatives after a mosque in Bolton, Greater Manchester, was fire bombed.

He said: "My main concern is what will happen in terms of any retaliation."

But he added: "Countries cannot just walk away when thousands have died and there are terrorists hell-bent on flying planes into buildings."

The Muslim Council of Britain said: "The people of Afghanistan neither planned nor perpetrated terror - they must not be doubly victimised."

We condemned the attack on the World Trade Center and we are condemning the attack on the innocent people of Afghanistan

Ajmal Masroor

The council urged British Muslims "to act with utmost patience and not let themselves be provoked" in testing times.

It also urged vigilance "against acts of hate and Islamophobia directed at the Muslim community".

'Diplomacy not bombs'

President of the Islamic Society of Britain, Ajmal Masroor, said he was appalled by Sunday night's attacks.

Ajmal Masroor said: "We condemned the attack on the World Trade Center, and we are condemning the attack on the innocent people of Afghanistan by America and Britain."

I do not believe the US has the right to decide what type of government Afghanistan should have

Sher Azam

And the Chairman of Birmingham Central Mosque told BBC News: "We have never solved any problems through going to war."

Dr Mohammed Naseem added: "It is very saddening that the forces of reason and restraint have failed and the forces of haste and revenge have succeeded."

The president of Bradford's Council for Mosques, Sher Azam, also said that military action was not the solution.

Mr Azam said the United States (US) had not given the Taleban a real chance to negotiate.

"If this avenue were properly explored, perhaps there may have been a satisfactory outcome without more loss of life," he said.

Mr Azam continued: "If the US wants to punish those responsible, then it should go through the international courts of justice.

The first casualty of this attack has been the rule of law

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui

"If the attacks are about toppling the Taleban, then I do not believe the US has the right to decide what type of government Afghanistan should have," he said.

The leader of the self-styled Muslim Parliament of Britain also called for the case against Osama bin Laden to go before an international court.

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui told the BBC's Today programme: "The first casualty of this attack has been the rule of law."

He continued: "It is a very very sad day.

"The only people who will be happy are the American arms industry and oil companies."

Outspoken British-based Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri said Muslims worldwide would view the offensive as an attack on Islam and want to retaliate.

British submarines took part in the strikes on Sunday

"We are talking about one quarter of the planet," he continued.

And a spokesman for the fundamentalist group Al Muhajiroun said British military institutions, personnel, and government buildings had become "legitimate targets for attack" in the wake of the strikes.

Leader, Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, condemned the military action as "an act of terrorism" for which there was "overwhelming condemnation in the Muslim world".