Britain presents plans to ban 'hate preachers'

LONDON - Britain unveiled the criteria it will use to bar foreigners it believes inspire terrorism as part of a broad crackdown on Islamist preachers after last month's bombings in London.

Interior Minister Charles Clarke published a list of "unacceptable behaviours" which would prompt deportation or a ban on entry.

"The terrorist threat facing the UK remains real and significant and it is right that the government and law enforcement agencies do everything possible to counter it," said Clarke in a statement.

"That includes tackling those who seek to foster hatred or promote terrorism, sending a strong message that they are not welcome in the UK."

The list of activities, which covers any non-UK citizen in Britain or abroad, includes expressing views which foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in pursuit of particular beliefs and seeking to provoke others to terrorist acts.

The government said its plans covered views expressed through written, published or distributed material and websites as well as public speaking or preaching.

Two waves of bomb attacks on London last month have sparked a string of new anti-terrorism measures and Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the "rules of the game are changing".

The government is seeking further agreements like one it has struck with Jordan which allows British courts to deport Jordanians seen as a menace.

London says the agreement protects deportees from ill treatment but human rights groups are unconvinced.

"Today's announcement fails to answer the fundamental question: will the government's deportation plans result in suspects being sent to countries with a known record of torture?" said James Welch of civil rights group Liberty.

Earlier a newspaper reported that four suicide bombers who killed 52 people in attacks on London's transport network on July 7 triggered the blasts by hand rather than by mobile phones as previously suggested.

The Guardian, citing unidentified senior police and anti-terrorism sources, said the four British Muslims who blew themselves up on three trains and a bus used "button-like" devices to set off the bombs.

Police declined to comment on the report.

- REUTERS