Blair blamed for extremism

INDONESIA and Britain agreed yesterday to strengthen anti-terror ties, but Islamic leaders told visiting Prime Minister Tony Blair that his policies were breeding extremism.The five Islamic leaders, known as moderates on social and political issues, urged Mr Blair to withdraw British troops from Iraq and talk to the recently elected Hamas Government in the West Bank.
"He didn't respond specifically to our requests, but hopefully tonight he will wake up and realise our suggestions make good sense," said Din Syamsudin, leader of the country's second largest Muslim group, Muhammadiah. "We told him to withdraw his troops from Iraq because the occupation is only promoting more radicalism and new acts of terrorism."
Mr Blair's trip is the first by a British leader to Indonesia in more than two decades, showing the Southeast Asian country's renewed importance to Western nations fighting extremists and seeking alliances with moderate Muslims.
The British Prime Minister met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for a private discussion at the presidential palace, during which they agreed to expand their defence ties and co-operation in the war on terror. "We agreed to increase the efficiency in our efforts in fighting transnational crimes like terrorism," Mr Yudhoyono said.
Mr Blair added that the two nations "are going to work closely" on ways to combat international terror, although neither leader elaborated on the details.
Mr Blair and his wife, Cherie, arrived late on Thursday from New Zealand and were scheduled to leave Indonesia late yesterday. Margaret Thatcher, the last British prime minister to tour the country, visited in April, 1985, when then-dictator Suharto held power.
Meanwhile, in Britain yesterday the House of Lords accepted a compromise deal from the Government over its plans to require all citizens applying for passports to also get a national identity card.
The Bill was finally passed after a prolonged stand-off between the House of Commons and members of the Lords, Britain's upper chamber, which has rejected it five times.
Under the plans, anyone applying for a passport before January, 2010, can opt out of having an ID card, but will be put on a national database.
The Government initially demanded that all applicants for passports must apply for an ID card too. -