Opposition says UK must do more on Islamist extremism

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) Opposition leader David Cameron, speaking as police probed an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic airliners, accused the British government today of failing to do enough to fight Islamist extremism.

Britain should have a minister to coordinate counter-terrorism efforts as well as a dedicated police force to patrol its borders, Cameron told reporters.

The government should also lift Britain's current ban on allowing phone tap evidence to be used in court, he said.

''I do not believe that the government is doing enough to fight Islamist extremism at home, or to protect our security,'' the Conservative leader said.

Police are holding 23 people detained last week on suspicion of planning to bring down airliners bound for the United States with liquid explosives disguised as drinks.

The suspected plot, revealed 13 months after British Muslim suicide bombers killed 52 people on London's transport system, has revived debate about whether Britain is doing enough to combat extremist groups.

Cameron urged finance minister Gordon Brown to reverse his plan to freeze the Home Office budget in real terms.

''We must invest in our own police and security services to ensure we are doing all we can to prevent any future atrocities,'' he said.

Cameron asked why so few ''preachers of hate'' -- radical imams -- had been prosecuted or expelled from Britain and why more had not been done to use existing law to deal with radicalisation within the Muslim community in Britain.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has regularly accused the Conservatives of opposing government proposals for tougher measures against crime.

Cameron said the Conservatives would not flatly reject any attempt by the government to revive proposals to allow police to detain suspects without charge for up to 90 days.

Blair suffered a major parliamentary defeat last year when rebel members of his own Labour Party joined forces with Conservative and other opposition MPs to reject plans to extend the limit on detention without trial from 14 days to 90.

Parliament compromised on 28 days.

In the wake of the suspected bomb plot, Home Secretary John Reid has indicated the government may try again to raise the limit to 90 days.

Asked whether the Conservatives would vote against the proposal a second time, Cameron said: ''If the government want to come to us and explain new circumstances, new facts and new evidence, then obviously ... we will listen to them.'' But he added: ''they've got a lot of work to do on that.'' REUTERS SP VC2047