German officials agree anti-terrorism measures

BERLIN, Sept 4 (Reuters) German federal and state security officials ended a year-long deadlock today by agreeing on the need for a centralised database on terrorism suspects and increased surveillance at train stations, airports and ports.

The decision follows a spate of security alerts around Europe and a failed plot to detonate bombs on trains in western Germany in July which police said could have killed many people.

Today's meeting was attended by federal Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, interior ministers from Germany's 16 states, federal police chief Joerg Ziercke and the head of the BND foreign intelligence agency Ernst Uhrlau.

They agreed that Schaeuble would draft a law to create a database on suspected terrorists for use by state and federal police and security and intelligence agencies.

It would contain information on ''membership in terrorist organisations, weapon ownership, telecommunications and Internet data, bank accounts and safety deposit boxes, education, family and religious background, loss of identity papers, details of travel'', the officials said in a statement.

Information on people in contact with suspects who could be accomplices would also be in the database, the communique said.

Centralising such information is a sensitive issue in Germany, where states are fiercely protective of their sovereignty and often view federal involvement in their activities as an encroachment on their rights. This was one of the reasons for the long deadlock.

Under current laws, intelligence agencies and police are not obliged to share information. Some officials say that has hampered investigations and slowed action by security forces.

The statement said it was necessary to increase video surveillance at train stations, airports, seaports and other places police think may be ''danger points''.

The two suspected failed train bombers, both Lebanese, were identified thanks to surveillance footage of them dragging what appeared to be their suitcase bombs onto trains in Cologne.

The officials also pledged to re-examine laws for foreigners living in Germany, especially rules on the issuing of visas.

A Hamburg-based al Qaeda cell has been blamed for the September.

11, 2001, attacks on the United States. Since then, Germany has cracked down on Muslim militants living in the country and has put on trial a number of radical Islamists.

REUTERS AB PM2205