FACTBOX: Reaction to Obama's speech on Islam

(Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama has told the Muslim world that the United States was not at war with Islam.

Herewith some reactions from the Middle East, Pakistan and Iran:

EGYPT:

* EGYPTIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AHMED ABOUL GHEIT

"It comes as an important first step, toward relieving the tension witnessed in relations between the Muslim world and the U.S. and the West in the past few years, and rebuilding bridges of confidence between the U.S. and more than a billion Muslims around the world."

* ESSAM AL-ERIAN, PROMINENT MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD LEADER

"The speech needs to be implemented with action. There is common interest between America and the Islamic world, including liberty, equality, and ending dictatorships. The dictators need to be left for their people to deal with in free and fair elections. It is very important in the Islamic world to know that America is not backing such dictatorships...Obama needs to implement this speech and good language to show the Muslim world that the strategy of America has changed. If Mr. Obama were to make a clear statement against the new cabinet in Tel Aviv this would be a good message to the Arab world."

PAKISTAN:

* FOREIGN MINISTER SHAH MEHMOOD QURESHI

"That is a very positive statement and I want to be on record to appreciate that."

* MUNAWAR HASSAN, HEAD OF JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI

"What they have been doing is a crusade against Islam and Muslims. They have destroyed Iraq. They have destroyed Afghanistan. Their acts do not reflect what they are saying. Their actions are totally opposite to what they are saying. Such good statements do not make any difference."

KUWAIT:

* POLITICAL ANALYST ALI AL-BAGHLI

"This is a positive transformation toward changing the dialogue toward Arabs and Muslims. No matter what the U.S. does, Arabs and Muslims will not rest until the Palestinian case is resolved."

IRAN:

* MEHDI NOODAHI, 30, COLLEGE STUDENT

"I don't believe they (the U.S.) ever had the intention of entering into a conflict with the Islamic world to be extending the olive branch now."

JORDAN:

* SHEIKH HAMZA MANSOUR, HEAD OF SHURA COUNCIL OF THE ISLAMIC ACTION FRONT (IAF), THE POLITICAL ARM OF JORDAN'S MUSLIM

BROTHERHOOD AND LEADING ISLAMIST MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

"Obama realizes the extent of the damage done by his predecessor and is trying to improve America's image but we are not building a lot of hopes on these statements. What's required are not statements but real stances that give confidence in these words."