DUBAI, November 8 (IslamOnline.net) - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated that the U.S. would not withdraw its forces from Iraq until security is restored, denying any anti-Islam positions by the Bush administration.

"We will remain in Iraq until security and stability are restored," he told the Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview printed Saturday, November 8.

"Our troops are not under attack from an army but from groups of rebels who do not represent the Iraqi people," Powell claimed, referring to mounting resistance attacks, which left more than 146 U.S. soldiers dead since May 1, according to a count given by Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We want to end our presence in Iraq as soon as possible but we will never turn our backs and run because the situation gets difficult from time to time," Powell said, arguing that the U.S. was not interested in occupying other countries.

Twenty-seven U.S. soldiers and two American civilians have been killed in the past week only, the worst seven-day casualty toll since the beginning of the U.S.-led occupation on April 9.

As the attacks were centered on areas dominated by Sunnis, Powell urged Iraqi Sunnis to join the political process in postwar Iraq, describing the resistance as a "big problem."

"One of the Sunnis' problems in Iraq is the absence of the Baath party. They no longer have any organizations or political leaders who represent them," he argued.

"The best way for them to serve their interests is to participate in the process of drawing up the constitution and not in terrorism."

The top American diplomat blamed anew remnants of the deposed regime and foreign fighters for the attacks.

Powell categorically denied that the Bush administration had offended Islam, hinting at the anti-Islam remarks made by General William Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence.

Powell said that the entire administration rebuffed Boykin's statements, adding that he was not an administration secretary.

He said that U.S. President George W. Bush was crystal clear in rejecting any comments against Islam, noting that he went himself to the grand mosque in Washington after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to declare that they had nothing to do with Islam.

In an unprecedented move since March, Powell said he was satisfied with the Syrian cooperation with the U.S. by allowing an American team to check the bank accounts of the former Iraqi regime.

He added that Damascus agreed to receive Americans to scrutinize the remittances of Saddam's regime.

Powell hailed good relations with Saudi officials, including his counterpart Prince Saud al-Faysal and Ambassador Prince Bandr bin Sultan whom he described as an efficient man and a family friend since 25 years.

He noted that President Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah were in permanent contacts through phone conversations and letters.

On Saudi anti-terror efforts, Powell argued Saudi authorities can still do more, especially by tracking accounts of "terrorists" in public and private banks.

Ninety people were killed, including 12 Americans, on May 12 in triple bombings of residential compounds in Riyadh.

Since then, repeated shootouts have taken place in which several security men as well as suspects were killed or wounded.

On Iran, the secretary of state would not comment on a possible exchange of 3,800 Iranians from the armed opposition group People's Mujahedeen - who are held prisoner in Iraq by the United States - and suspected Al-Qaeda militants detained by Tehran.

"We have controlled the People's Mujahedeen in Iraq. And we say that it is up to Iran to hand (the militants) back to their countries," he said.

On the latest anti-press statements made by U.S. Ambassador in Cairo David Welch, Powell defended his top diplomats worldwide, asserting they represent the U.S. foreign policy and are free to speak up their mind.

He said American ambassadors are not mere employees but heads of diplomatic missions, who are supposed to give voice to their points of view.

During a conference at the American University in Cairo (AUC) on October 20, Welch deplored what he called "regrettable articles" in Egyptian press "proposing crazy conspiracy theories, or attacking the United States in very hostile terms."

This is not the first confrontation between Welch and the Egyptian media and press.