A leading Muslim has re-issued a public condemnation of Osama Bin Laden -- the terrorist chief behind the attacks on America.

Mohammed Ajaib, chief administrator of the Keighley Muslim Association, spoke out after pro-Taliban graffiti was daubed on a number of Keighley buildings, including the Shared Church Hall.

Mr Ajaib said: "We have already condemned Bin Laden from day one and will continue to do so.

"The Muslim Association has done everything it can to put out the correct message but we're not saying we can control everyone on the streets.

"Our main concern is about Pakistan because it has put itself out in a very delicate position because it wants to get rid of terrorists."

He added: "The graffiti maybe the work of youngsters from the Asian community but the vast majority of people are not in favour of either graffiti or supporting Bin Laden and the Taliban.

Noreen Akhtar, who has just returned from a tour of Pakistan said she believed the graffiti was done by young boys who did not understand the situation.

"They have no idea who Bin Laden is, what he's done, his history or what his thoughts are. They are basing their thoughts on ignorance," she said.

Khadim Hussain, manager of the Sangat Centre, said the graffiti might not have been done by Muslims, but by people trying to "inflame" the situation.

He said: "My problem is youngsters who have seen the video released by Osama Bin Laden which addresses real issues in the Muslim community.

"There is a tension in Pakistan and the protests are now spreading to the rest of the country. People have already been killed there. We have to tread very carefully and assess the situation.

"We should not be taken over by what's happening in other parts of the world but focus more on what's going on at home.

"We can do our best to diffuse the situation but we can't go on like that forever."

Special reports p5