British Muslims write to Blair

Some of the leading British Muslims have urged Prime Minister Tony Blair to step up efforts in bringing an end to the Middle East violence, alleging that the Iraq war and UK's "failure" to use its influence to end Israeli attacks on civilians are fuelling extremism at home.

In an open letter to Blair, they charged that current foreign policy of the government fans the flames of extremism and may put British citizens at risk of attack, both in the UK and abroad.

"The debacle of Iraq and now the failure to do more to secure an immediate end to the attacks on civilians in the Middle East not only increases the risk to ordinary people in that region, it is also ammunition to extremists who threaten us all," The Independent newspaper quoted the letter as saying.

"We urge the prime minister ...to show the world that we value the lives of civilians wherever they live and whatever their religion," the letter said adding that "Such a move would make us all safer."