Davos, Switzerland ? The United States faced more criticism Friday at the World Economic Forum, this time for conducting a war on terrorism that opponents claim targets Muslims and violated human rights.

After weathering complaints about their stance on Iraq, American officials were told they were guilty of racial profiling and should try harder to discover the roots of terrorism.

U.S. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft was first in line, saying the United States expected governments throughout the world to make preventing terrorism a priority and “desperately needs” help in piecing together information “of acts that are yet to occur.”

But Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said focusing on prevention without addressing the causes of terrorism was wrong. Those responsible for the 9-11 attacks “were incensed over something” and the world should try to understand what motivated them, Mahathir said.

Ashcroft said the 9-11 attackers engaged in “hostage-taking to kill innocent civilians,” adding that “the targets of terrorism are values and the rule of law.

“I’m not willing to say we have to downplay values we believe in to appease the terrorists,” he said.

Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft heard criticism of U.S. efforts to fight terror at the World Economic Forum.

On the opening day of the forum Thursday, several of the 2,300 business, government and other leaders criticized the United States for its threats to go to war against Iraq over its alleged arsenals of mass destruction.

Kumi Naidoo, secretary-general of the South Africa-based Civicus-World Alliance for Citizen Participation, criticized “the severe curtailment of civil liberties” in democratic countries, including the United States. He cited the “invasion of privacy rights,” bans on meetings by certain groups and travel restrictions for Arabs and others.

“I don’t think we’ve got the balance right,” he said. “We are seeing large levels of alienation of ordinary human beings across the spectrum.”