BANGKOK - Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an apparent rebuff to Malaysian Prime Minister's remarks about Jews, said Sunday that no nationalities, communities or cultures should be discriminated against.

He was asked to comment on Mahathir's remarks at the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) summit last week that Jews "rule the world", which drew a storm of protests from Western nations who viewed them as anti-Semitic.

Putin, who attended the OIC meeting as Mahathir's guest, said that despite its ethnic troubles in Chechnya, Russia "provides a unique example of nations and cultures living side-by-side over the past thousands of years.

"In this respect, we are speaking out the idea that any persons of any nationality will feel comfortable in any part of the world and this is our basic idea," Putin said on the sidelines of a Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting.

Historical facts

Mahathir said at the OIC meeting that he was merely stating historical fact and that it was "grossly unfair" that Muslims could be criticised but others could not condemn the Jews.

"It is a manifestation of bias towards Muslims that you cannot criticise the Jews without being called anti-Semitic," he said. The veteran Southeast Asian leader denied he was anti-Semitic.

Putin said Russia, with its 20 million Muslim population, would strengthen its relations with the Muslim world.

He stressed that Russia was a "multi-denominational" country and was against any form of discrimination.

Moscow has been accused in the past of various forms of discrimination against Muslims in Chechnya who have waged a separatist struggle since 1994. - AFP