New ‘terror laws’ talks set to start

Talks have commenced over the contentious issue of new “terror laws” for the UK, which could see a range of new offences introduced to the country’s statute books that may include charges covering preparing, training for and inciting terror acts.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke is meeting his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts, David Davis and Mark Oaten, to debate the proposed legislation, and a series of what are described as "consultative meetings" will be held throughout the coming week.

The talks come after the July 7 bombings in London, which left 55 people dead in four separate incidents throughout the capital, and which were thought to be the work of suicide bombers with links to Islamic militant groups.

The debate has also been sparked by the publication of several new reports, which claim that the UK’s close ties with America’s ‘war against terror’ lies at the root of increased terrorist activity against British interests.

One report, issued by foreign affairs thinktank, the Chatham House organisation, described the world-view of UK as a country "riding as a pillion passenger with the United States", while the Economic and Social Research Council said that al-Qaida’s recruiting power had been given "a boost" by the UK’s current level of involvement in Iraq.

However, foreign secretary, Jack Straw, hit back against the claims, and stated that the recent terrorist attack at a beach resort in Turkey – a country which has not supported the invasion of Iraq – showed that terrorists "seek any excuse" to strike.

The bombing of the resort minibus, thought to be the work of a Kurdish separatist group PKK, killed five including one British woman, one Irish teenager and three Turkish people.