WASHINGTON (Reuters): The FBI has launched a new drive to seek information from Muslim and Arab Americans to help thwart any pre-election attack, a move some communities consider a racist campaign which will not make America safer.

The FBI said it was working hard to assure Arab and Muslim groups it was not discriminating against them in the renewed quest for information, which began with an FBI circular to field offices last week calling for stepped up outreach, including interviews.

Arab and Muslim Americans say they have received unwelcome attention since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the U.S.-led war on extremist Muslim militants. Many accuse the government of singling them out for questioning, detention and civil rights abuse, and call the latest FBI initiative more of the same.

Some community members say they feel intimidated by the new drive. Others fear they are being strong-armed into snitching on neighbors or revealing political views unrelated to terrorism.

However, Cassandra Chandler, assistant director and national spokesperson for the FBI, said the fears were unfounded.