Muslim council says Bush administration too slow to act on cooperation pla

[True_Blue]

LOS ANGELES (AP) An Arab-American advocacy group said Sunday that the Bush administration is taking too long to endorse its plan that would encourage mosques to take a more active role in teaming with law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism.

``We are ready to help in leading this effort,'' Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Muslim Public Affairs Council, said at a town hall-style meeting attended by several dozen people. ``Our voices are not being heard.''

In May, after Attorney General John Ashcroft warned that ``credible intelligence'' indicated that terrorists were planning a major strike against the United States this summer, the council sought the FBI's help in promoting its campaign to assist the government. The plan condemns terrorism and seeks to improve cooperation between mosques and law enforcers.

The FBI office in Los Angeles has said it supports the program, but it has not received the blessing of the Justice Department, FBI headquarters or the White House. Matthew McLaughlin, a supervisory special agent with the FBI in Los Angeles, said he was ``confident'' it would be endorsed on a nationwide basis.

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