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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Blair defends global terror fight | Blair defends global terror fight |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair has warned that terrorism continues to be a "global" threat and needs to be fought whether it is in "Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else". | Tony Blair has warned that terrorism continues to be a "global" threat and needs to be fought whether it is in "Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else". |
| He said his view was "not popular", but the "large part of the Western world" which blamed George Bush was wrong. | He said his view was "not popular", but the "large part of the Western world" which blamed George Bush was wrong. |
| "This is a very deep-rooted problem right round the world... if we don't fight it it's going to come after us," the prime minister told the BBC. | "This is a very deep-rooted problem right round the world... if we don't fight it it's going to come after us," the prime minister told the BBC. |
| His comments came ahead of the first meeting of a new terrorism committee. | His comments came ahead of the first meeting of a new terrorism committee. |
| The committee, which brings together intelligence agency representatives, police and ministers, was set up as part of Home Office reforms. | The committee, which brings together intelligence agency representatives, police and ministers, was set up as part of Home Office reforms. |
| You have these outside terrorists coming in and linking up with internal extremists and causing this carnage. Tony Blair | You have these outside terrorists coming in and linking up with internal extremists and causing this carnage. Tony Blair |
| It is intended to streamline the approach to security threats. | It is intended to streamline the approach to security threats. |
| Speaking about terrorism on BBC Breakfast, Mr Blair said: "We have to fight it whether it's in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere else." | |
| Mr Blair acknowledged the situation in Iraq was "hugely difficult". | Mr Blair acknowledged the situation in Iraq was "hugely difficult". |
| "It's difficult because you have external elements - al-Qaeda up near Baghdad, and Iranian-backed elements down in Basra - who are deliberately creating the problem." | "It's difficult because you have external elements - al-Qaeda up near Baghdad, and Iranian-backed elements down in Basra - who are deliberately creating the problem." |
| He said it was not true that Saddam Hussein "was a kind of lid" on sectarian violence which "poured out" once the dictator was toppled. | He said it was not true that Saddam Hussein "was a kind of lid" on sectarian violence which "poured out" once the dictator was toppled. |
| "If you talk to ordinary Iraqis - whether they are Sunni or Shia - they want to live together. You have these outside terrorists coming in and linking up with internal extremists and causing this carnage." | "If you talk to ordinary Iraqis - whether they are Sunni or Shia - they want to live together. You have these outside terrorists coming in and linking up with internal extremists and causing this carnage." |
| He also said it was wrong, as "a large part of the Western world" says to blame President Bush for terrorism. | He also said it was wrong, as "a large part of the Western world" says to blame President Bush for terrorism. |
| The new ministerial committee, expected to meet monthly, will be backed by a new Office for Security and Counter-terrorism (OSC), which will meet weekly and be chaired by the Home Secretary. | The new ministerial committee, expected to meet monthly, will be backed by a new Office for Security and Counter-terrorism (OSC), which will meet weekly and be chaired by the Home Secretary. |
| Part of the OSC's role is to provide a forum for the intelligence agencies to pass on information to the police and other relevant bodies. | Part of the OSC's role is to provide a forum for the intelligence agencies to pass on information to the police and other relevant bodies. |