BBC News Online: World: Middle East

Archbishop says conflict 'not war on Islam'

The archbishop is due to speak on Al-Jazeera

He sought to counter calls from Osama Bin Laden, previously broadcast by the channel, for Muslims around the world to widen the Afghanistan conflict.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme Dr Carey said military action was "necessary".

But he insisted: "This is not a war between two great world faiths."

Asked about British Muslims wanting to fight for the Taleban he said: "We want young Muslims to feel at home in our country, to be part of our great nation and to make a contribution to it."

"The message we must give, communicate to young Muslims throughout the world that we are not attacking Islam."

Freedom of worship

Dr Carey's appearance on Al Jazeera comes after he called on Muslims to ensure the freedom of worship for Christian minorities in his main speech during a three-day visit to Bahrain.

He told the BBC: "I think the effects of 11 September have made Christians in some parts of the world feel more vulnerable...Pakistan is an obvious example."

Dr Carey said Muslims and Christians had a duty to maintain a strong dialogue and work together to solve problems such as poverty which could fuel terrorism.

In the address, shown hours after the US-led military strikes on Afghanistan began, Bin Laden said that America's war on terror was a war on Islam.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has already appeared on the station to say that the US and it allies wanted "justice, not revenge".

Dr Carey's visit to Qatar was arranged before the terror attacks on America.