CAIRO, Egypt: World Muslims praised the late Pope John Paul's drive to build bridges with Islam, saying his compassion and leadership changed their view of the Catholic Church.

They admired Pope for his strong support for independence for the Palestinian people, as well as his opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq.

"His role was vital in gathering people in the dialogue between Christians and Muslims," said Ali El-Samman, an adviser to the grand sheikh of Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque and university.

Palestinian and Afghan leaders commended the Pope's support of their people's desire for freedom, and clerics in Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh hoped his successor would build on the Pope's efforts to strengthen ties of understanding with Islam.

In Pakistan, Chief of Tehrik Nafaz Fiqh-i-Jafariya Qaed-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Aga Sayed Hamid Mousavi lauded Pope over his role for world peace and advocacy of religious tolerance. He said the pontiff had made clear to the world after 9/11 that they must differentiate between terrorism and Islam.

Iraqi lawmakers observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the late Pope John Paul II during the National Assembly session in Baghdad, Iraq Sunday, April 3.

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak praised the Pope's "long journey of giving, during which he remained a symbol of love and peace and one who called for dialogue between religions."

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said the Pope had commanded the three paths of religious learning, philosophical thought and poetic and artistic creativity.

"This was a good man, a man of peace," said Theirno Habibou Tall, a Muslim leader who met the Pope during his visit to predominantly Muslim Senegal in 1992.

The Pope survived an attempt on his life by a Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, in May 1981.