New British law seeks to counter image as haven for terrorists

LONDON — Britain has launched new anti-terror legislation meant to curb support for Islamic insurgency.

The legislation grants authorities expanded powers to make arrests and seize assets of suspected terrorist groups. Officials said the government of Prime Minister Tony Blair has concluded that Islamic insurgents have used Britain as a base for their activities.

"Terrorism is a uniquely cowardly yet barbaric crime," Home Secretary Jack Straw said.

London is regarded as the base of operations for a host of movements opposed to such regimes as Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey. The new law could ban insurgency groups as terrorists and officials said the government is examining a list of 40 groups deemed as terrorists by the U.S. State Department.

A leading critic of Britain has been Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who has accused London and the rest of Europe as serving as a haven for Islamic terrorists. "I forecast that in the near future, you Europeans will have much trouble because of the hospitality you have afforded to these terrorists," Mubarak said during his current visit to Europe.

"European countries continue to give hospitality to terrorists who found a refuge in your lands."

The legislation was put into effect as London is concerned over the prospect that a British bombing suspect in Riyad might be executed. Saudi authorities said the British national, Alexander Mitchell, has confessed to two bombing attacks.

Saudi Prince Bandar said the bombings in November were part of a dispute between alcohol smugglers. The Saudi kingdom contains tens of thousands of British nationals, but the last execution of a British citizen was 20 years ago.

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