Just a few days ago London was the target of a criminal act committed by a terrorist group that chose a timing no one anticipated.

The coordinated bombings in the British capital that left dozens dead and hundreds injured came while London and the entire country were celebrating Britain’s Olympics victory. London is to host the 2012 Olympics. The terrorists struck when leaders of the eight richest countries of the world were holding a summit in Scotland. It was as if the bombings were meant to kill the spirit of the British people.

The accelerated acts of terror forced the United States to declare a state of emergency, putting the American people under renewed pressure.

What is happening in the world right now is proof that international terrorism is still active and capable of striking with force, choosing the time and place without any consideration to what security measures the countries targeted may have taken. All the measures taken by the American administration, including destroying Afghanistan and Iraq, in the name of the war against terrorism, have failed to produce any significant results. The US insistence on unilaterally addressing the problem of international terrorism has only spread panic all over the world.

International terrorism has developed into a phenomenon threatening the security and safety of peoples and countries. This has been the case since the French Revolution. The phenomenon assumed a more visible shape over the past two decades and did not start with the Sept. 11 attacks.

Egypt has been the first country in the world to bring to attention the dangers of international terrorism, warning it could spread to engulf the entire world.

President Hosni Mubarak spoke before the European Parliament at a meeting in Strasburg on Jan. 28, 1986 calling for an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to uproot terrorism.

Egyptian leader stressed the need for a combined international effort involving all countries of the world, one that is not confined to a particular country or group of countries.

The call was repeated in numerous conferences that followed, with President Mubarak cautioning the Americans and Europeans against hosting terrorists or granting them political asylum because one day they will turn against them.

No one took his advice seriously. The West responded by saying the Egyptian president was facing internal problems at home and that the West was immune from such threat.

Time has proven the Egyptian president right and the others wrong. Tokyo, Paris and some German cities were all targeted by terrorists. The attacks culminated in Sept. 11 bombing of New York and Washington but did not stop there. Terrorists hit Madrid, Istanbul, Riyadh, Casablanca and some Asian cities.

Now that the terrorists have struck again in London and the menace is threatening the entire world, isn’t it time to agree on an international conference to study the phenomenon and suggest solutions?

It is impossible for one country to fight international terrorism. It would be a futile effort as proven over the past months. Addressing the problem at an international conference would allow all counties to express their views and recommend solutions.

The conference should come up with a clear definition of international terrorism. International terrorism is different from domestic terrorism carried by certain organizations or individuals for political reasons. It is also different from state terrorism practiced by governments against individuals or people under occupation. What is more important is that resistance to occupation and struggle for freedom should not be equated with international terrorism.

The conference would help find a solution to the problems of terrorism without creating division among countries of the world as is the case today with Washington acting unilaterally. The conference would help guarantee the security and safety of the US that is now more prone domestically and internationally to terror acts.