MPs tackle world terror

Parliament reconvenes to tackle terrorism

On the first day of parliament MPs reconvened to discuss how to proceed with the war on terrorism. But both the opposition and human rights groups have expressed concern.

During a particularly active afternoon in the Commons both Home Secretary David Blunkett and Chancellor Gordon Brown made statements on how the government plans to change the law to deter and disrupt the work of terrorists in Britain.

Mr Brown focused on financial sanctions to cut off the supply, not just of money, but of weapons. He said Britain had so far frozen 35 suspect bank accounts with assets totalling £63 million.

The Home Secretary outlined several measures; an extension of the incitement law to cover religious as well as racial hatred, strengthened security at ports and airports; tighter asylum controls as well as the power to detain those regarded as a terrorist threat but who cannot be removed from the country.

Blunkett toughens up the asylum laws

In addition to the emergency anti-terrorist bill, Mr Blunkett said he intended to bring forward an extradition bill to modenise the current nationality and asylum system.

So far the government has enjoyed cross-party support for its policies, but both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats said they would monitor the implementation of these new laws.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, Simon Hughes, tells the programme there must be a balance and that the rights of the majority must not be eroded.

Nicholas Blake, a QC specialising in immigration law, says it is vital that these measures do not undermine the fundamental rights of individuals to a fair trial.

Aid convoys bound for Afghanistan

Also on the programme Unicef announced that the lives of 100,000 Afghan children are at risk this winter. The UN children's agency says they must get sufficient food within the next six weeks.

60 World Food Progamme trucks loaded with grain set off from Peshawar tomorrow.

PM's Angus Crawford reports from Pakistan.

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To hear the interviews with Carolyn Quinn and the special report click on the audio link above