DHAKA: The Grand Imam of Egypt’s top Islamic institution has called for a radical reform of religious teaching to tackle the spread of Islamic extremism.

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb of Cairo’s al-Azhar University said that a historical misreading of the Koran had led to intolerant interpretations of Islam.

Speaking at an anti-terror conference, he called for unity among Muslims.

Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has said that a pan-Arab military force is needed to combat terrorism.

He told Egyptian state TV that the need for such a unified force was ‘growing and becoming more pressing every day’ because of the huge challenges faced by the region.

‘We will be able to overcome such challenges when we unite together,’ he said, reports the BBC.

BDST: 1547 HRS, FEB 23, 2015