Commons leader voices concern over Rushdie row

London June 22 (UNI) As the row over the Knighthood to Salman Rushdie continues the Commons Leader Jack Straw entered the fray saying he found his books ''rather difficult''.

''I've never managed to get to the end of any of them, despite a basic rule I have which is if you start a book you have to finish it. I'm afraid of his writing has defeated me,'' Mr Straw told MP's.

The Commons leader, whose Blackburn constituency has the highest proportion of Muslims in the UK, told the MPs he understood the 'concerns and sensitivities' triggered by the award.

Mr Straw was answering a question from Mr Paul Rowen, LibDem MP for Rochdale, who said there was concern at the knighthood in the Muslim community and asked how the decision was made.

He said ''of course I understand the concerns and sensitivities in the Muslim community. However, there can be no justification for issuing a 'fatwa' on the life of Mr Rushdie.'' On Wednesday Home Secretary John Reid refused to apologise on behalf of the government despite protests across the Muslim world.

In Pakistan traders have offered a reward of 90,000 dollars for anyone who beheads Mr Rushdie.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Wednesday she was 'sorry' if the knighthood had caused offence but said Britain had been right to bestow it.

UNI