Reid heckled during speech to Muslims

LONDON, Sep 20 (Reuters) A heckler denouncing the British police as ''state terrorists'' interrupted a speech to Muslim leaders by Home Secretary John Reid today.

The demonstrator shouted at Reid, calling him ''the enemy'' and attacking the government's anti-terrorism policies before being led away from the venue in east London.

''How dare you come to a Muslim area. I am here to disrupt the meeting,'' the man, who identified himself as Abu Izzadeem, said.

''Shame on all of us for listening to him.'' Reid was forced to interrupt his speech on the need for Britain's Muslims to do more to root out possible extremists.

A second heckler briefly disrupted the speech later.

Reid's call reflects government frustration that Britain's Muslim communities are not doing enough to combat radical elements in their midst.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has repeatedly stated that the police and security services alone can not defeat terrorism and that they need the help of Britain's 1.7 million Muslims.

Since the July 2005 suicide bomb attacks on London's transport system which killed 52 commuters, police say they have foiled five other plots involving British Islamists.

Last month, detectives said they had disrupted a plan by suicide bombers to blow up trans-Atlantic airliners using liquid explosives.

They have since charged 17 Britons in connection with the suspected plot.

Writing in the Sun newspaper earlier this week, Reid said: ''I appeal to you (the Muslim community) to look for changes in your teenage sons -- odd hours, dropping out of school or college, strange new friends.

''And if you are worried, talk to them before their hatred grows.'' Senior Muslim leaders and politicians have pointed the finger of blame at Britain's foreign policy for causing extremism, saying the government had put civilians in Britain and elsewhere at greater risk, a charge London fiercely rejects.

Ahmed Versi, editor of the UK-based Muslim News said Reid's call for parents to ''spy'' on their children suggested all Muslims were potential terrorists.

''What is he asking Muslim parents to spy on? To watch when they are ever late and then report suspicions to anti-terrorist police to intervene and have them interrogated for 28 days? It is a pure farce,'' Versi said.

Relatives of the four Britons who carried out the July 7 London bombings have spoken of their ignorance and shock at learning their children were involved in the plot.

Indeed detectives began to uncover the identities of the men responsible after the worried mother of the youngest bomber, 18-year-old Hasib Hussain who blew up a bus killing 13 people, reported to police that he was missing.

REUTERS SSC VV1716