British Prime Minister cracks down on militants

Blair cracks down on militants
Seeks to change deportation laws

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By Kevin Cullen, BOSTON GLOBE August 6, 2005

LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair unveiled plans yesterday to make it easier to prosecute and deport those who foster terrorism, insisting that extremists and their supporters have exploited and abused Britain's tradition of tolerance.

Blair also said the government would seek the power to shut down places of worship, including mosques, that are used ''as a center for fomenting violence."

Blair announced the proposals amid a growing sense of anger among many Britons who contend that they have become the targets of extremists whose families were given sanctuary as economic migrants or asylum seekers.

''Let no one be in any doubt that the rules of the game are changing," he told reporters at his monthly Downing Street press conference, as he prepared for his summer vacation. ''The circumstances of our national security have now self-evidently changed."

Among the key items of the 12-point list of measures: enacting a law that makes it illegal to condone, justify, or glorify terrorism; broadening the grounds to strip citizenship, deport someone, or prevent them from entering the country if they are linked to a terrorist threat; and setting a maximum time limit on suspects' extradition challenges. The plan also would extend beyond 14 days the amount of time police can detain suspects before charging them, and increase the number of judges hearing terrorism cases.

michael mccafferty comments:

I respect and admire the leadership of Prime Minister Tony Blair.