Democratic forum condemns terrorism

By Caroline Gluck BBC Seoul correspondent

Foreign ministers and other delegates from more than 100 democratic countries around the world have adopted what is known as The Seoul Plan of Action.

It sets out concrete steps to promote and protect democracy.

The second Ministerial Conference of the Community of Democracies - described as the world's largest democracy conference - also issued a statement on terrorism.

It described it as a grave threat to democratic societies and backed international efforts to fight terrorism.

The Seoul Plan identifies seven areas where practical measures can be taken to bolster democracy.

They include:

Strengthening regional co-operation

Setting out ways to deal with threats to democracy, including the disruption of constitutional rule

Strengthening democracy education.

Delegates also backed plans to promote stronger democracies through good governance, encourage the greater involvement of civic groups and co-ordinate assistance to democratic nations.

The meeting also issued a statement denouncing terrorism as a grave threat to democratic societies and their values. It said the fight against terrorism required international co-operation.

But it also stressed that policies to strengthen democracies and tackle issues such as poverty, and empowering socially marginalised groups, played important roles in efforts to eradicate terrorism.