Radicals say Iraqi war would mean attacks in Britain

Radical Muslim leaders say a war against Iraq could spark September 11-style terrorist attacks in Britain and the United States.

London-based fundamentalists are to issue a joint "Islamic verdict" condemning plans for US-led military action against Saddam Hussein.

If the US and the UK continue to play with fire there can only be one consequence which is of them to burn their hands and to choke on the smoke - September 11th being an example. Text from a statement issued by extreme Islamic groups in London

At a press conference in London, extreme Islamic groups are to warn that the inevitable consequence of such a war would be retaliation.

In a statement, they said: "If the US and the UK continue to play with fire there can only be one consequence which is of them to burn their hands and to choke on the smoke - September 11th being an example".

Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad, a cleric and leading figure in the fundamentalist Al-Muhajiroun group, has urged Muslims in Britain not to adopt violent tactics.

Speaking to the BBC he said he condemned all violence but described the September 11 suicide hijackings as "a direct response to the evil American policy in the Muslim world".

He said he knows Islamist radicals abroad are threatening to launch retaliatory attacks for any assault on Iraq.

PA