The final declaration adopted by the 114-member countries, however, skirted direct criticism of the US for its missile strike on Sudan as demanded by Khartoum in a resolution.

It emphasised that international cooperation to combat terrorism should be conducted in conformity with the principles of UN charter.

Voicing opposition to selective and unilateral actions, the declaration asked competent UN organs to promote ways and means to strengthen cooperation, including the international legal regime, for combating international terrorism.

Prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had indirectly hit out at the US for its missile strikes on Sudan and Afghanistan saying terrorism could not be fought by unilateral or selectiveaction.

Addressing the 12th NAM summit, Vajpayee had demanded a global conference to find ways to combat the menace of terrorism.

Condemning all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, the declaration said it had adverse consequences on economic and social development of states and affected stability of nations and the very basis of societies, especially pluralistic ones.

The NAM leaders asked all states to work for enhancing international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, wherever, by whoever and against whomever it occurred, at the national, regional and international levels.

They said that states should observe and implement the relevant international and bilateral instruments, taking into account the final documents of the UN conference on the prevention of crime held in Cairo in 1995.

The declaration affirmed that criminal acts intended or calculated to provoke a state of terror in general public, a group of persons or particular persons for any purpose were, in any circumstance,unjustifiable, whatever the considerations or factors that may be invoked to justify them.

It reaffirmed the movement's principled position on legitimacy of struggle of peoples under colonial or alien domination and foreign occupation for national liberation and self-determination which did not constitute terrorism.

The member nations asked all countries to take necessary measures to prevent, combat and punish acts of hostage taking, including strengthening of international cooperation in this field.