Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf called on Muslim and Western nations on Tuesday to do more to rid the world of terrorism. Musharraf backed President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's efforts to forge a peace deal with a large Muslim separatist group. Addressing the Philippine Congress, the Pakistani general called on Islamic nations "to do more to reject extremism and intolerance and promote socio-economic development that is lacking in many Islamic societies." He also urged Western nations to help settle long-standing political disputes "that have caused so much pain in the Islamic world," adding that the West should help extricate poor countries from misery. Musharraf has advocated a peaceful solution between Israel and the Palestinians. Musharraf, who arrived late Monday in Manila for a three-day visit, was given a red carpet welcome and full military honors by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Tuesday. Both leaders later witnessed the signing of an anti-terrorism agreement allowing their countries' security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies to share information and work hand-in-hand to disrupt terrorist and crime networks, officials said. Arroyo also briefed Musharraf on Malaysian-brokered peace talks between her government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has been fighting for a separate Muslim homeland in the southern Philippines, officials said. "I urge the Muslims of the Philippines, my brothers and sisters in faith, to shun the path of confrontation, suppress extremism," Musharraf said in his congressional speech, which drew loud applause from lawmakers. But he called on the government to respect Muslims' rights, tradition and culture to allow them to live in harmony in society. During their closed-door talks, Arroyo sought Pakistan's support for a Philippine bid to gain observer status in the OIC. Musharraf said the Philippine bid could be taken up in an ongoing restructuring of the OIC.
