10:15pm on 2 March 2010

An influential Muslim scholar is to issue a global ruling against terrorism and suicide bombing.

Tahir ul-Qadri, from Pakistan, says his 600-page judgement, known as a fatwa, completely dismantles al Qaeda's violent ideology.

The scholar describes al Qaeda as an "old evil with a new name" that has not been sufficiently challenged.

In his religious ruling, Dr Qadri says that Islam forbids the massacre of innocent citizens and suicide bombings.

Although many scholars have made similar rulings in the past, Dr Qadri's followers argue that his massive document, being launched in London, goes much further.