Saudi's Top Cleric Condemns Attacks on Non-Muslims

Saudi Arabia's top cleric Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh on Monday condemned violence against non-Muslims living in Islamic countries and attacks on Muslims on the pretext of apostasy.

"Given the dangerous developments in the Muslim world, I would like to warn against the danger of attacking Muslims and those (non-Muslims) under Muslim protection," he said.

He condemned calls which lead to the "shedding of the blood of Muslims and of those living in their countries in peace," in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

"Those extremists have invented the pretext of 'takfir' (the charge of apostasy), which makes light of the killing of Muslims and others who are protected," he said.

Sheikh's warning comes as fears intensify for minorities living in restive Arab countries, especially Syria.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia charged that the "obstinacy" of the Syrian authorities, in the face of a 30-month armed revolt, "serves the interests of extremist movements."

Britain's Daily Telegraph on Monday cited a defense study as showing jihadists and members of hardline Islamist groups make up almost half of the estimated 100,000 fighters battling the Syrian regime.