DAR AL HARB - U.K.: MOSLEMS APPRECIATE PM GORDON BROWNS' POSTURE OF FLAMING DHIMMITUDE IN REACTION TO THE MOSLEM JIHAD WAGED IN LONDON & GLASGOW

Muslims welcome Brown government's response to terror threat

Muslims in Britain have welcomed the change in tone by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Government in reacting to the attempted car bombs in London and at Glasgow airport.

Muslim News editor Ahmed Versi Wednesday praised what he described as a "refreshing and reassuring response" by Brown in comparison with former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"The more balanced tone can only be welcomed by all communities," Versi said. "The response is strikingly different to blame game adopted by the previous government," he said.

"It was a much more refreshing and reassuring style in which he spoke for the possible need for a cold war-style propaganda campaign," he said.

The editor also praised that there had been "no knee-jerk reaction in trying to put all the onus on Muslims and more draconian legislation.

"The need to abandon ill-conceived strategies and the use of words like Islam and Islamism with terrorism and extremism, has been a rallying call of The Muslim News and the change in leadership seems to now offer this opportunity," he said.

Versi suggested with Brown trying to reach out to win all hearts and minds could be a "defining moment" that sets the tone for his premiership.

The Daily Express on Tuesday went as far as suggesting that the new premier had banned ministers from using the word "Muslim" in connection with the terrorism crisis and had also instructed the government not to use the term of "war on terror."

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) also believed that there was a much more balanced approach by the government and on Tuesday the umbrella group urged its communities to play a key and potentially decisive role in the fight against terrorism.

MCB Secretary General Abdul Bari praised both Brown and his new Home Secretary Jacqui Smith for the "calm and reassuring tone" of their comments since the weekend's attacks.

"They made clear that it was unacceptable to hold any one faith group responsible for the actions of a few," Bari said.

He also welcomed the reassurance given to Muslims by Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond after the attack on Glasgow airport.

In response, the MCB has called a meeting in London on Saturday of key imams and activists from all over the country to discuss what more can be done by Muslim communities to confront the threat of terrorism.



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