WASHINGTON, September 11 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – The US Muslims mark the third anniversary of the 9/11 with a deep condemnation of terrorism and determination to have a further political participation in the country, press reports said on Saturday, September 11.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has taken the anniversary to publish a plethora of earlier statements condemning the attacks on Washington and New York three years ago.

"We condemn in the strongest terms possible what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians. No cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts," the group said in one of the earlier statements, all of which appear in a banner on its website in the anniversary.

The campaign to condemn terrorist attacks, and clear stereotypes of Muslims as well, have also drawn many voices in solidarity. A petition by CAIR was signed by more 685,000 Muslims so far.

"We, the undersigned Muslims, wish to state clearly that those who commit acts of terror, murder and cruelty in the name of Islam are not only destroying innocent lives, but are also betraying the values of the faith they claim to represent," read the petition.

However, calls came in parallel for Muslims to register their political presence in this country in the November presidential and local elections as a step toward ending what many believe are excesses in the "war on terror".

"The hurdles thrown in out way after the 9/11 – including, for example, mass detentions, have forces us to take a stance and be part of the political process," Assaf Asef, an activist from New Jersey.

"We now well release politics in the state revolves around how many dollars you donate to your presidential favorite, and how many votes you could master for his or her support," Assaf told the Arabic-language daily Asharq Al-Awsat in a report from Washington.

The American Muslim Taskforce, an umbrella group for top US Muslim organizations, met behind closed doors separately from the weekend conference, deliberating whether to make an endorsement in the race.

Other press reports say American Muslims hold special importance this election year because they have strong communities in battleground states such as Michigan, Ohio and Florida, as Democrats and Republicans are seeking their support.

Acknowledging the need for political presence, Agha Said, the head of the American Muslim Alliance (AMA), expected that some 100 Muslims would run for the coming local elections.

Michael Berry, a Muslim banker in Dearborn, Michigan, is one of the candidates running for the coming local elections after he had win the second place in the Michigan legislative council elections, in which 13 other contestants were vying.

In the Presidential elections, Muslims in the country hope they could be a mighty force – all for the sake of maintaining civil rights and ending hate crimes spreading after the chilling 9/11 attacks.

In 2000, leaders of major Muslim organizations made their first endorsement in a presidential race, choosing Bush over Democrat Al Gore. Bush had indicated he was sympathetic to their concerns about the use of secret evidence in immigration hearings.

The series of interviews so far covered a broad spectrum, including students, high-tech professionals and even prominent Muslim figures, reported the Washington Post.