Inflammatory graffiti has begun to appear on the walls of Baghdad saying, "Arabs out of Iraq" and "We back the government - Arabs go home", The Independent (UK) reports. New strict residency rules to detain and expel foreign Arabs, suspected of aiding the insurgency, have triggered both protest and support.

Foreign Muslim fighters in Iraq are a familiar story, but the focus on foreign Arabs is new. Targeted groups include Palestinians, Sudanese Arabs, Syrians, Saudis, Egyptians, and even Chechens and Iranians. The LA Times observes: "For those who have lived here for years, the xenophobia is painful. Most Arabs came for work, often with proper papers."

For an insight into the difference between an Arab and a Muslim response to the "war on terror", see Dyab Abou Jahjah on The thirty year war on terror, and Fareena Alam on A humane Muslim future. Add your thoughts and read Dyab Abou Jahjah's comments on the distinctions and stereotypes in our forum discussion.