Vatican City - Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday met with 11 Libya-based Muslim scholars and experts who participated in two days of inter-faith talks at the Vatican.

The talks themed "Responsibilities of Religious Leaders especially in Times of Crisis," are part of several Vatican initiatives to reach out to Muslims and improve relations damaged in 2006 when Benedict, in a speech, appeared to associate Islam with violence.

Following their meeting with the pontiff on Wednesday, the Muslim delegation from the Tripoli-based World Islamic Call Society issued a joint four-point declaration with the
12 Catholic representatives at the talks which began on Monday.

Both sides agreed that religious leaders have a "special responsibility towards youth, who require particular attention so that they do not fall victim to religious fanaticism and radicalism, receiving, rather, a sound education thereby helping them to become bridge builders and peace makers," the statement said.

The two sides agreed to hold the next round of discussion in Tripoli within the next two years. (dpa)