Muslim discontent awaits Rice in England

LONDON, Mar 30 (Reuters) U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will face protests and Muslim resentment over the Iraq war when she visits northern England this week.

Rice arrived today night at John Lennon Airport in Liverpool, a city steeped in left-wing radicalism. The Stop The War coalition has said it will demonstrate against the Iraq war everywhere Rice goes.

She will travel to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's home town of Blackburn where 20 percent of the population is Muslim and speak on U.S. foreign policy in Blackburn Rovers' soccer stadium.

Rice had been scheduled to visit a mosque in the city until the invitation was withdrawn on Wednesday. No one at the Masjid al Hidayah mosque was available for comment but the Foreign Office confirmed the cancellation, saying it was a pity.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the largest lobby group for the country's 1.6 million Muslims, said there was widespread opposition to U.S. foreign policy and Rice's visit.

''This particular U.S. administration has upset many Muslims in the UK and around the world ... so it is not particularly surprising that the visit to a Blackburn mosque has had to be cancelled,'' MCB spokesman Inayat Bunglawala said.

Her visit follows Straw's trip to Rice's home state of Alabama last October when the pair engaged in round of high profile photo opportunities.

Rice flew into Britain from Paris and, before that, Berlin, where she discussed Iran's nuclear programme with officials from Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China.

HISTORIC LINKS The Stop The War coalition statement said the cancellation of the mosque trip was ''evidence that the bulk of the community, Muslim and otherwise, are strongly against the visit''.

While in Liverpool, Rice will attend a concert and visit the maritime museum, steeped in the history of travel and trade between Britain and the United States.

Both countries have made much of the historic links between the southern United States and northern England during the industrial revolution, when American cotton was imported through Liverpool to Blackburn, where it was woven into cloth.

At the height of the trade, there were 140 cotton mills in Blackburn, which, like most towns and cities in northern England, has since been blighted by post-industrial malaise.

The two-day visit will also give Rice a chance to indulge her passion for The Beatles.

Not only will she visit the band's home city, she will also see the town which inspired one of their more curious lyrics.

''I heard the news today, oh boy. 4,000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire,'' run the words from the song ''A Day in the Life''.

John Lennon wrote the words after seeing a newspaper headline about the poor state of roads in Blackburn.

''I never understood that Beatles song,'' Rice said earlier this month when asked about her forthcoming trip. ''Perhaps now I'll get the chance.'' REUTERS SK RN0243