A day after the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive favoured exploring the legislative option to resolve the Ayodhya tangle, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani on Sunday declared that the issue could be settled through talks.

Advani, who had earlier also expressed doubts over the passage of a legislation in view of the present arithmetic in Parliament, said there was thaw on the Ayodhya issue now.

"Several Muslim organisations and individuals are now talking of resolution of the Ayodhya issue. A settlement by a dialogue is the best option... a settlement that will defuse tension," he said.

Advani was addressing the valedictory session of the party's three-day national executive in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

In his address, Advani also pointed out that a number of Islamic countries and individuals were attempting to demonstrate their distance from terrorism in the wake of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

"Our democracy has many strong points. It assures space for all. It is for this reason that not one Indian has been found involved in Al Qaeda," he said.