Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on Saturday called on Muslims in the Arab world to stop infighting and unite to fight the aggression of the "enemies of the Islamic world."

Gaddafi made the statement at a gathering in the northern Niger town, one day after arriving here to celebrate the Muslim feast of Mouloud, which marks the birth of the Prophet Mohamed.

Deploring the conflict between the Shiites and Sunnis, Gaddafi warned that it is some western regime that "created" the distinction and pitted the Sunni against Shiite Muslims.

He then called on all Muslims to unite as one to fight the outer forces seeking to divide them and interfere with their affairs. "We are just Muslims, and (there is) no difference between Sunnis and Shiites," he said.

The "western occupation" also wants the Muslim people to stand against Iran, which would only be in the interests of the occupiers, Gaddafi warned.

Speaking of the recent standoff over Iran's detention of 15 British marines, Gaddafi said that the United Kingdom has been lying by saying that these soldiers were in Iraqi waters when they were captured.

He then called for more understanding for the Islamic religion and for Muslims.

The celebration of the Muslim feast of Mouloud gathered leaders from African countries such as Niger, Mauritania, Chad, Mari and Sudan, as well as about 850 tribal representatives from 32 African and Arab nations.

Source: Xinhua