Western Media Taken to Task Over Coverage

Saudi Arabia and Iran have issued a joint statement condemning what they call a vicious Western media campaign against Islam since the Sept. 11 attacks in the U.S.

The two deeply Muslim countries pledged to confront the Western image of Islam and to make it known that the religion stands for peace and justice.

The statement was issued late Monday in Riyadh by the Saudi Shura Council, an appointed body that is the closest thing Saudi Arabia has to a parliament.

Saudi Arabia has been criticized in Western news media for not doing enough to support the U.S.-led anti-terrorism campaign.