Tories target Euro rights convention

Duncan Smith says the law must be changed

Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith has claimed that the UK's incorporation into law of the European Convention on Human Rights was harming the fight against terrorists.

Mr Duncan Smith used prime minister's questions in the Commons to suggest action was needed.

Isn't it time to ensure here that we can make sure that they (terrorists) cannot shelter behind our laws

Iain Duncan Smith

"When we are really asking our allies to make huge efforts in their war against terrorism, isn't it time to ensure here that we can make sure that they (terrorists) cannot shelter behind our laws," he said.

Mr Blair argued it would be a mistake to "get rid" of the convention but said that if necessary specific parts of the legislation could be changed.

'Protection possible'

"I really believe it is possible to make the changes necessary to protect our citizens without getting rid of the European Convention on Human Rights, which does give our citizens a legal course of action in circumstances against the government," said Mr Blair.

The prime minister pointed to proposals by Home Secretary David Blunkett to speed up extradition procedures, as well as the Terrorism Act last year.

Pakistan has now closed its borders to refugees

The Tory leader insisted that the way the European convention was preventing terrorist suspects being deported from the UK was viewed with dismay in some Arab states.

He added that the same problem was not found in countries like France.

The question time session also saw Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn press for a halt in the bombing, "which seems to be directed in part against conscripted soldiers and civilian targets".

Bombing halt call

The left-wing veteran asked: "Do you not accept the call of aid agencies last week for a halt in the bombing to allow the humanitarian aid to get in, rather than more death and more destruction?"

Mr Blair instead insisted there were "no civilian targets at all" for the military strikes.

And he again highlighted the stance of the World Food Programme to back his view that it was the Taleban rather than coalition military action that was preventing aid from reaching Afghanistan.

Blair: No civilian targets at all

Speaking of the horror of the US terror attacks, Mr Blair said: "I can't see, in the light of that atrocity, the fact that we know that that network of terror intends committing further such atrocities, how we could possible stand back and do nothing in those circumstances."

Guarding against claims that opponents to the campaign were being "gagged", he told Mr Corbyn: "I respect entirely your right to disagree with the course that we are taking but I believe that course to be right."

Refugee pressure

Liberal Democrat Leader Charles Kennedy's take on the international crisis focused on the humanitarian aid effort as he pointed to the "sheer pressure" of the number of Afghan refugees amassing on the Pakistan border.

Mr Kennedy argued that debt relief should be given to Pakistan, which has closed its borders with Afghanistan, and to the wider Asian sub-continent.

With two million refugees going into Pakistan, Mr Blair said the UK had stepped up its help to the country and was looking at the issue of debt relief.

"Of course, a lot of the debt is not ours so there is a limit to what we can do but we are working with the international community."

He said the fact that Pakistan had passed the first stage of its IMF programme was a "big step forward".