Muslim world cautious of Obama's "new way"

Arabs and Muslims received Wednesday U.S. President Barack Obama's promise of "a new way forward" with caution as many in the region said action speaks louder than words, while Iranians doubted reconciliation between Tehran and Washington.

Arabs and Muslims gave the benefit of some doubt on Wednesday to U.S. President Barack Obama's offer of "a new way forward" with the Muslim world, but many said it would take deeds rather than words to convince them.

After eight years of President George W. Bush, who invaded two Muslim countries and gave strong support to Israel, Arabs and Muslims watched Obama's inaugural speech on Tuesday closely for any sign that U.S. policy toward them will change.

With some exceptions on the fringes, a clear majority said they welcomed a new tone from Obama, who promised relations based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

"This is a speech that reflected a new spirit of dialogue, reaching out and working together. This is a new direction that is certainly not what the Bush administration has been pursuing," said former Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher.

This is a speech that reflected a new spirit of dialogue, reaching out and working together

Ahmed Maher, former Egyptian FM

Hilal Khashan, political science professor at the American University of Beirut, noted Obama's reference to Muslims as a significant part of the patchwork of the United States, an attitude not common in U.S. political discourse.

"The fact that he mentioned Muslims means a lot. This is a symbolic gesture to the Muslim world that they are part of the world. He's inclusive," he said.

In Britain, the umbrella Muslim Council of Britain welcomed Obama's offer of new relations with the Muslim world.

"His intentions are noble. I hope it ends the rift between the United States and the Muslim world, which has grown further and further in the last eight years," said Muhammad Abdul Bari, the secretary general of the organization.

The fact that he mentioned Muslims means a lot. This is a symbolic gesture to the Muslim world that they are part of the world

Hilal Khashan, political science professor

Arab democracy

Even in Sudan, which has had poor relations with the United States for years because of disagreements over the conflict in Darfur, the government said it was positive about Obama.

"We are very optimistic... This is based on the background of what (President Obama) has been saying, about a change in foreign policy, about moving away from Iraq," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadig.

In Egypt the opposition Muslim Brotherhood, which has borne the brunt of repression by a government backed by the United States, said it too saw hope in Obama's words.

"I was happy when I heard him saying the relationship with the Arab and Muslim world should be based on respect," said Essam el-Erian, head of the Brotherhood's political committee.

"We need mutual respect. If this attitude persists, I think it will transform relations between the United States and Arabs," he added.

The George W. Bush administration also promised to make democracy in the Arab world a priority but analysts say it lost interest when Islamists made electoral gains in the region. Arab liberals and democrats felt abandoned and deceived.

We need mutual respect. If this attitude persists, I think it will transform relations between the United States and Arabs

Essam el Erian, head of MB political committee

Silent on Gaza

Many ordinary people were more skeptical that Obama will match his rhetoric with real changes in U.S. policy.

Zoubeir Ben Sassi, a 40-year-old technician in Tunis, said: "We thought that Obama would be different and we hoped that his policy in the Middle East would be fair. But it seemed that he is like his predecessors.

"He was silent over the Gaza massacre... When Israel stopped the war he spoke about a new start with the Muslim world. They are just words and nothing will be done on the ground."

Obama's reluctance to comment during three weeks of Israeli attacks on Gaza reduced expectations in the Arab world that he will adjust the U.S. policy of support for Israel -- the main Arab and Muslim grievance against successive U.S. presidents.

"All of this talk won't result in anything. He's just the same as Bush," said Zahi Abdo, a Lebanese man.

He was silent over the Gaza massacre. When Israel stopped the war he spoke about a new start with the Muslim world

Zoubeir Ben Sassi, Tunisian technician

Adil Gatae, 42, a guard at a government building in Baghdad, said: "The West doesn't seek to benefit Islam. Islam for them is a religion of terror. I don't think there will be big change in the course of U.S. policy. These are false promises."

Lebanese political commentator Sateh Noureddin said: "It is change in the language (addressing) the Muslim world but I don't think there will be any change in the essence of the relationship with the Muslim world."

In Morocco Abdelilah Benkirane, chief of the main Islamist opposition party, said he liked Obama's words but doubts he has sufficient freedom of movement to put them into practice.

"We are waiting for action, for deeds. Barack Obama's words are nice but we want to see action. He does not rule America alone. He leads the U.S. on behalf of global companies including the ones that make and sell weapons," he said.

We are waiting for action, for deeds. The words of Barack Obama are nice but we want to see action.

Abdelilah Benkirane, chief of Morroccan Islamic party

Tehran

In Iran, state television stations preferred to lead their news reports on demonstrations of support for the Palestinians, while some newspapers also judged the inauguration was not a front page story.

The ultra-conservative Kayhan daily dubbed Obama as "a big fan of Zionists," below a cartoon that showed outgoing US President George W. Bush handing the Israeli flag to the new Democratic U.S. leader.

The conservative Hamshahri ran a sarcastic headline: "The change advocate, who changed," noting what it described as Obama's "recent change of tone" to support war policies of the previous Republican administration.

Obama has vowed diplomatic engagement with Iran but Hillary Clinton, his choice for secretary of state, has repeated the Bush's administration stance of "not taking any option off the table" -- which includes military action -- in relations with the Islamic republic.

Tehran university students belonging to the Islamist group of Basij (volunteers) took an openly hostile tone towards the new US administration as they celebrated the "victory of Hamas in Gaza" against Israel.

"They stopped threatening us with military attack, but they increase economic sanctions against us and continue to be hostile toward us," a young philosophy student, Abdollah Bani Hassani, told AFP.

They stopped threatening us with military attack, but they increase economic sanctions against us and continue to be hostile toward us

Abdollah Bani Hassani, Iranian student