The Non Aligned Summit began in the Malaysian capital on Monday with the hosts attacking the United States and the western countries for their "double standards" in fighting terrorism and holding them responsible for its upsurge across the world.

Taking over the mantle of the 116-nation grouping, representing more than half the world's population, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed, in his opening remarks, said religious extremism was only a reaction to the "blatant double standards" in the western treatment of Palestinians and Iraq.

Picking up from where he had left at the NAM Business forum on Sunday, he said "If Iraq is linked to Al Qaeda is it not more logical to link the expropriation of Palestinian land and the persecution and oppression of the Palestinians with September 11?"

"It is this blatant double standard, which infuriates the Muslims to the extent of launching their own terror attacks," Mahathir said a day after warning that the global war on terrorism was increasingly turning out to be an "anti-Muslim rather than anti-terror war."

Without naming the US, he said, "It is no longer a war against terrorism. It is a war to dominate the world. Powerful countries no longer respect borders, international law, or simple moral values following the September 11 terror attacks," Mahathir said.

Making a strong anti-war speech, he called for outlawing "war" and made a forceful plea that there should be no room for a single country to take on the role of world policeman and take unilateral action.

Speaking in the same, but much more toned down spirit, the movement's outgoing chairman Thabo Mbeki asked the NAM countries to do everything to protect and advance the practice of multilateralism against unilateralism.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who is among the 63 heads of states attending the summit, will address the gathering later on Monday. He had addressed the first ever NAM business forum on Sunday.