Bush: Islamic Leaders Must Denounce Terrorism

US President George W Bush called on "all responsible Islamic leaders" to denounce terrorism as he hosted diplomats from nations with large Muslim populations as well as US Muslim leaders.

"I believe the time has come for all responsible Islamic leaders to denounce an ideology that exploits Islam for political ends and defiles your noble faith," he said as he held a Muslim meal and prayer at the White House.

The remarks came at an Iftar dinner -- the daily meal at sundown that breaks the fast during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"I am grateful to the Muslim nations that have joined our coalition in the war on terror -- including many nations that have been victims of terror themselves," said bush.

"We must be very clear about the enemies we face: the killers who take the lives of innocent men, women, and children are followers of a violent ideology very different from the religion of Islam," said the President.

"These extremists distort the idea of jihad into a call for terrorist murder against anyone who does not share their radical vision, including Muslims from other traditions, who they regard as heretics," he said.

"Their strategy will fail," said bush, who drew his warmest applause when he mentioned that the White House library now had its first Koran.

The US President, who declared a global war on terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks, has in recent weeks increasingly been describing terrorists as extremists fueled by a radical brand of Islam.