Cameron warning on Islam extremists

Islamic extremists must not be allowed to pervert fledgling democracies and persecute minorities, David Cameron is to warn.

Delivering a speech in Indonesia, the Prime Minister is to praise the country as proof that the religion is compatible with democracy.

He will insist the shift the world's most populous Muslim state has made away from authoritarianism is an example to those caught up in the Arab Spring.

But Mr Cameron will also highlight the dangers facing new democracies such as Egpyt, where Islamic political parties have significant support. "Let me be absolutely clear - I am not talking about Islam. Islam is a religion observed peacefully and devoutly by over a billion people," he will say.

"And let me also be clear: extremism is not only found among Muslims. But there is a problem across the globe with Islamist extremism which is a political ideology supported by a minority.

David Cameron shakes hands with
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono in Jakarta

"Extremists - some of whom are violent - and all of whom want to impose a particular and very radical, extreme version of Islamism on society to the exclusion of all others. And this total rejection of debate and democratic consent means they believe that democracy and Islam are incompatible.

"What Indonesia shows is that in the world's largest Muslim-majority country, it is possible to reject this extremist threat and prove that democracy and Islam can flourish alongside each other. That's why what you are doing here is so important, because it gives heart to those around the world who are engaged in the same struggle."

Mr Cameron will continue: "In Egypt, it is vitally important to ensure that the democratic success of the Muslim Brotherhood's party strengthens democracy and does not in the end undermine it. The choice of the Egyptian people must be respected and we must all be ready to work with the government that the Egyptian people elect. But at the same time we will demand that in pursuing their political views the elected government are not denying the rights of citizenship to those who do not share their specific religious views."

The speech comes as the Prime Minister continues his trade mission in South East Asia, which started in Japan on Monday. He held talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta as part of efforts to deepen links with the fast-growing economy. But he suffered an embarrassing moment when his host suggested that boosting government spending and preventing companies laying off staff was the best way to fix a wrecked economy.

Later Mr Cameron will take his whirlwind tour to Malaysia, before rounding off the week with trips to Singapore and finally Burma. While there, he is due to become the first western leader to meet Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi since she was elected to parliament this month.