MI-5 said behind cancellation of Islamic strategy conference involving Bin Laden aides

LONDON -- Under pressure from British authorities, an international conference of Islamic fundamentalists, who included those with links to Saudi bomber Osama Bin Laden, has been cancelled.

The Khilafah conference, touted as a meeting of Islamic activists from around the world, was to have discussed strategy on Kosovo, the Arab-Israeli conflict and Dagestan. Participants were to have included representatives from the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Gamiat Islamiya and aides to Bin Laden.

But last week, the Royal Albert Hall said it would not allow the conference to be held on its premises. British sources said the management of the hall was urged by authorities to cancel the event.

Conference organizers said MI-5, British domestic intelligence, was behind the decision. They said that as late as Aug. 5 the hall assured them that it would not cancel the event.

But by Sept. 10, the hall demanded a schedule of the speakers and topics. Four days later, management informed organizers that the conference was being cancelled.

"The Royal Albert Hall and the British Institution have made the assumption that by cancelling Sunday's conference, they will somehow silence the Muslims into submission to the corrupt western way of life," a statement by the organizers said.

Zaheer Ali spokesman for Al Muhajiroun, which organized the conference, said more events would be planned.