The leader of Jordan’s most powerful Islamist group said on Tuesday many so far placid Muslim movements could take up arms to defend Iraq against any potential U.S. occupation. “Under U.S. occupation (of Iraq), no one (Muslim groups) will restrict their actions to peaceful means. Everyone will call for resistance by all the means they can muster. Arabs have every justification to resist,” said Sheikh Hamza Mansour, head of the Islamic Action Front (IAF). “It is a national and religious duty to resist the U.S. occupiers with all means available. There is nothing worse than occupation and I don’t think there is anything more cowardly than a person who accepts occupation,” he said. Asked if resistance meant a resort to violence, Mansour said: “No one is calling for resistance with roses and flowers.” The IAF, Jordan’s largest and most powerful mainstream Muslim party, is lobbying peacefully and working within the political establishment to influence decision-makers. Jordan’s government has said it would not participate in any U.S.-led war against Iraq but will not let differences on the Iraq issue jeopardise relations with Washington, a key ally. Full Story