President Barack Obama has ended a three-day summit on tackling violent extremism, by rejecting as “an ugly lie” the notion that the West is at war with Islam.

He also warned nations that failing to promote freedoms and address grievances only serves the interests of extremists.

“When dissent is silenced, it feeds violent extremism. It creates an environment that is ripe for terrorists to exploit,” Obama told the summit in Washington.

“When peaceful democratic change is impossible, it feeds into the terrorists’ propaganda that violence is the only answer available.”

Among delegates from over 60 countries was the French Interior Minister, his country still reeling from last month’s deadly terror attacks.

Like his host, Bernard Cazeneuve was eager to insist that extremism should not be confused with Islam.

“We condemn in the strongest terms any lumping together of all the world’s Muslims, and as far as we are concerned those in France, with the actions of small groups only i