Blair to meet Muslim leaders to tackle radicals

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair and opposition heads will meet Muslim politicians and community leaders on Tuesday as a first step to building a plan to tackle radical Islamist ideology.

"Collectively we will listen to what the Muslim leaders have to say," Blair's spokesman told reporters.

He said the meeting at 10 Downing Street was not just about expressing solidarity with the Muslim community but about trying to find practical ways forward.

Muslim leaders have expressed shock that four British Muslims were the perpetrators of last week's attacks on London which left at least 56 dead.

Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, the country's largest Islamic group, said any initiatives from Tuesday's meeting should be a partnership between government, police and faith organisations.

"The Muslim community should not be treated as a problematic community, but treated as a community that is willing to play its role in the mainstream," Sacranie told Reuters.

On Monday, imams from around 500 British mosques issued a fatwa, or edict, condemning violence and presented it to politicians at Westminster. The fatwa will be read out at mosques during prayers this Friday.

- REUTERS