Prince Charles to ask Americans to be more tolerant to Islam

The Prince of Wales will try to persuade US President George W. Bush and his fellow Americans to be more tolerant to Islam this week, according to The Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

The Prince, who leaves on Tuesday for an eight-day tour of the US, has voiced private concerns over America's "confrontational" approach to Muslim countries and its failure to appreciate Islam's strengths.

Prince Charles, who is about to embark on his first official foreign tour since his marriage to the Duchess of Cornwall, wants Americans -- including Bush -- to share his fondness for Islam.

He has agreed to attend a seminar on religions at Georgetown University, Washington, on Thursday -- the only event where he will not be accompanied by the Duchess.

The Prince raised his concerns when he met senior Muslims in London in November 2001. The gathering took place just two months after the attacks on New York and Washington. "I find the language and rhetoric coming from America too confrontational," the Prince said, according to one leader at the meeting.

It is understood that Prince Charles did not -- and does not -- believe that the actions of 19 hijackers should tarnish the reputation of hundreds of millions of law-abiding Muslims around the world.

Source: Xinhua