UK will be in terror grip till 2038, says Security Minister

London, Oct.22 : A minister in the Gordon Brown-led British Cabinet has warned that the country could be terrorized by radical young Muslims for the next 30 years.

Security Minister Lord West told the Commons Defence Committee that there were no fast track solutions to countering the menace.

"This isn't going to change just like that. To stop this radicalisation of extremists is going to take about 30 years, I would think. But it will become a virtuous circle. It will start getting better and better," the Daily Mail quoted him, as saying.

The ex-Royal Navy chief, 60, also warned that security policies alone could not beat radicalisation.

"We cannot arrest and protect ourselves out of this problem," he added.

He admitted the Government's foreign policy - including sending troops to Iraq and Afghanistan - had angered Muslims but said efforts to get through to them were working.

"I have found that when you talk to them the first discussion with a group is pretty hardcore stuff for you. But actually the second and third time they are beginning to understand, once you explain why you are doing things," Lord West said.

The Home Office Minister said Whitehall was even considering appointing aabinet Minister to tackle the issue. But Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said it would be difficult for one departmental Secretary of State to cover threats to the country ranging from terrorism to bird flu.

ANI