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British papers caution Government on Terror legislation |
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Monday, 02 July 2007 |
British newspapers have pleaded with the British government not to rush
through anti-terror legislation in the wake of the three failed terrorist
attacks in recent days.
Police have so far detained five people in connection with the discovery Friday
of two Mercedes cars laden with gas canisters and nails in London's
entertainment district and the blazing jeep that rammed into Glasgow airport's
main terminal Saturday.
The right-wing Daily Telegraph wrote in its editorial that the immediate
aftermath of a terrorist atrocity is the worst possible time to legislate.
It said the government's response to the bombers should be proportionate to the
threat faced, not to the public outrage.
"There is always a temptation for ministers to look tough by awarding themselves
new powers instead of using the powers already at their disposal," the paper
said.
The Labor government of then PM Tony Blair tried to push through new anti-terror
legislation following the July 7, 2005 London transport system suicide bombings
that killed 52 commuters.
The bill that would have allowed police to detain terror suspects for 90 days
without charge failed, in one of Blair's major domestic defeats.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said before taking office last week that he wants
police to have the right to detain terror suspects for 90 days, although he has
not mentioned extending detention periods since the attacks.
The Daily Mail, another right-wing paper that is often critical of the governing
Labor Party, offered tentative praise for Brown, who only took over from Blair
on Wednesday, and Smith.
It described the pair as "a new prime minister and a rookie home secretary both
facing a huge test within hours of taking office."
The Independent, a left-wing paper, took a similar line, declaring in its
editorial that it "is vital that the prime minister does not rush through new
repressive anti-terror laws ... it is vital that our political leaders pause for
thought.
Meanwhile, The Times, a right-of-center newspaper, called for moderate Muslim
leaders to loudly voice their strong disapproval of the attacks in London and
Glasgow.
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