3/3/2010 12:40:00 AM

WASHINGTON, March 2 (KUNA) -- The United States on Tuesday welcomed Islamic scholar Muhammad Tahir ul-Qadris fatwa condemning terrorism in all its forms as a "very important step" in curbing counter-radicalization, the State Department said.

Following the rare fatwa issues in Britain by ul-Qadri, leader of the Minhaj ul-Quran religious and educational organization, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said the United States "welcomes these kinds of developments, whether in Britain or elsewhere around the world as being very important steps in having Muslims themselves make their own judgement about vision that Al Qaeda and bin Laden have propogated." "Anyone who comes forward and rejects that vision, we welcome those steps," Crowley added.

He also told reporters during a press briefing that the US and other countries have "emulated" Britains "very significant, detailed, extensive counter-radicalization strategy" for the past few years, including extensive outreach within the Muslim communities.

Crowley indicated that improved dialogue with the Muslim communities will be one of "the cornerstones that will help us ultimately minimize and then defeat radical movements" in the United States.