We are not fighting Islam, Obama tells Muslims

US President Barack Obama has told Muslim delegates attending countering violent extremism conference in Washington that the west is not fighting Islam.

He said US and the west is fighting terrorist whom he said are hiding behind the religion.

Obama has urged world leaders to counter Islamic state influence which has currently captured swathes of land in Syria, Iraq and expanded to Libya saying its goal is to radicalize young population.

Representative from more than 60 countries are attending global countering violent extremism conference in Washington DC.