SYDNEY -- So you live in Australia and preach terrorism? Well, get out. That's the blunt message senior Howard government ministers are telling radical Australian Muslims.
The somewhat shocking demands follow a summit meeting with Prime Minister John Howard of moderate Australian Muslims. Designed to defuse tensions between Islamic extremists and mainstream Australians, particularly in the wake of Australian troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, the "let's be friends" talkfest has raised the political temperature rather than lowered it.
Trouble started the minute Howard announced he would gather the often-conflicting Islamic organizations to talk about means of harmonizing social relations. The 13 government-invited group leaders were willing. Those left out were furious.