Added to that, he said, nearly all the country's

Muslims settled in Wales in the 19th Century

mosques had either been attacked or received abusive mail.

His address comes a day after Prime Minister Tony Blair - in his inaugural speech to the assembly - spoke out against attacks on Muslims, including those in Wales.

In the 10 days immediately after the terrorist strikes in America, there were around 110 incidents within Swansea, Cardiff and Newport on the Muslim Community.

A third of those were in Swansea - a place Dr Ally said had been hardest hit.

Abused

In the other cases, a number of Sikhs have been targeted apparently by mistake.

"Regrettably the post 11th of September situation is not very good within the communities, we have seen a triple increase in the number of bullyings that are going on in schools, we have seen, regrettably, on the streets, women being abused, and children also being abused, on the street, and particularly the Muslim community," he said.

"I would also like to bring to the attention of the members the fact is that nearly all the places of worship for the Muslim community have either been attacked or received abusive mail."

Dr Ally, head of CRE Wales, said examples of the incidents included children being bullied at school or on their way home and Muslim women abused while they were shopping.

Concerns

He said people's fear of reporting racial incidents meant that the true number of cases could be twice the number actually recorded.

He suggested a practical way to help young people in schools deal with the issues arising from Septmeber 11th was for them to have a way of venting their concerns in a constructive way.

He proposed that schools with the highest incidence of bullying and harrassment could hold workshops with pupils and teachers, to allow young people to bring up their concerns.

He added that it was clear that the 11 September attacks and post September 11th issues had raised a tremendous amout of hate between pupils, which would have a long-term effect if it was not addressed.