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CND in the News
CND in the News: 21-28 July 2005
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1 Vigils for London bombing victims
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4690327.stm
Public vigils have taken place in Edinburgh and Glasgow to remember the
victims of the London suicide bombings. Simultaneous gatherings at The
Mound and in George Square were organised by a number of groups. They
included the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB), the Stop the War Coalition
and Scottish CND.
As well as expressing sympathy for the London victims, speakers at the
Glasgow event condemned US and British military action in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They also opposed anti-Islamic attacks following the blasts in the UK
capital, which killed at least 55 people, including the bombers. Those
attending the events observed a minute's silence for the bombing victims
and a piper played a lament at the Glasgow gathering.
Organisers said: "This vigil for peace has been called in remembrance
of the victims in London but also for every single person, civilian and
military, who has been killed by Bush and Blair's unnecessary wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan."
Speakers included Maxine Gentle, the sister of Private Gordon Gentle who
was killed in Iraq. Since his death the soldier's family have campaigned
against British military involvement there. Also speaking were the Reverend
John Mann of the Church of Scotland, Scottish Socialist Party MSP Rosie
Kane and Osama Saeed, of the Muslim Association of Britain.
Mr Saeed, said: "Muslims are as horrified by the atrocity in London
as everyone else. "It is doubly frustrating for us, as some sections
of society expect us to look within ourselves and deal with those who
want to kill and maim. "The reality though is that these people aren't
even a minority - they are a tiny handful and we don't know who or where
they are."
Earlier in the day, speakers including MP George Galloway addressed a
gathering in Russell Square in London in support of the victims. They
also expressed "opposition to the racism and Islamophobia which have
resulted since Thursday's attacks".
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2 Experts link London blasts to war in Iraq
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/hi/news/5041259.html
BRITISH involvement in the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan could have
fuelled the London bombings, a think-tank said today.
Terrorism and security experts said there was "no doubt" the
Iraq war imposed "particular difficulties for the UK" and the
conflicts boosted al Qaida "propaganda, recruitment and fundraising".
The report contradicts Prime Minister Tony Blair's insistence it was wrong
to link the London attacks to military operations in the Islamic world.
He said terrorism was only the result of an "evil ideology".
Report authors Frank Gregory, of Southampton University, and Professor
Paul Wilkinson, of St Andrews University, said: "There is no doubt
the situation over Iraq has imposed particular difficulties for the UK,
and for the wider coalition against terrorism."
They added: "The UK is at particular risk because it is the US's
closest ally."
Defence Secretary John Reid denied the claim and said the British public
would not want the Government to "stand back while others take on
the terrorists".
The Muslim Council of Britain and other Muslim groups have issued a "fatwa"
denouncing the bombings as "utterly criminal, totally reprehensible,
and absolutely un-Islamic". They said the killings had "absolutely
no sanction in Islam" and added: "Those who carried out the
bombings in London should in no sense be regarded as martyrs."
Yesterday Scots Muslims gathered in Glasgow and Edinburgh in a show of
solidarity to remember the blast victims. The vigils were attended by
hundreds of people of all creeds and colours who stood with bowed heads
in Glasgow's George Square and on the Mound in Edinburgh.
The events were organised by the Muslim Association of Britain in Scotland,
Scottish CND, and the Stop the War campaign.
Osama Saeed, spokesman for the MAB in Scotland, said in Glasgow: "We
need to come together at this time, Muslims, non-Muslims, Christians and
people of no faith to try and make sense of the atrocity."
The vigils were held as it emerged the apparent ringleader of the bombings
was already known to security services. Mohammad Sidique Khan, the Edgware
Road bomber, was assessed by MI5 last year when his name came up in connection
with another alleged bomb plot. But officers decided the 30-year-old teacher,
from Leeds, was only "indirectly linked" to the plot and he
was not placed under surveillance.
In Cairo British detectives have arrived to interview an Egyptian scientist
about the attacks.
Magdy el-Nashar, who studied at Leeds University, has been linked to a
flat in the city that is being searched by police.
Egyptian authorities say el-Nashar has no links to al Qaida and they will
not hand him over.
But detectives are expected to be allowed to interview him themselves.
Police in London have been given an extension to continue questioning
a man over the blasts until tomorrow.
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