U.K. for strengthening of cooperation in anti-terror fight

New Delhi, Sept 15 (PTI) Against the backdrop of the serial blasts here, Britain Monday said the two countries need to intensify their cooperation in the fight against the "common threat".

British Justice Secretary (Minister) Jack Straw said the
two countries should intensify engagement in sharing of
intelligence and experiences and counter-terrorism techniques
to fight the scourge more effectively.

"There is quite a fellow feeling in the U.K. for Indians
because we have suffered similar circumstances from similar
maniacs," Straw told a select group of reporters here while
commenting on Saturday's serial blasts in Delhi.

Conveying deepest condolences of his government and
people to the victims, he said there can be no excuse for such
"outrageous" acts.

"We have extensive anti-terror cooperation and that
needs to be deepened because it is a common threat coming from
a common source," said Straw who discussed the issue with Home
Minister Shivraj Patil.

"These outrages have to be faced together... We have to
learn from each other," he said.

He talked about the need for building intelligence base
and adopting a multi-faceted strategy, including high levels
of policing, to counter terrorism.

Emphasising that terrorists have nothing to do with
Islam which is "one of the world's great religions", Straw
said those indulging in terror acts are "totally perverted"
people and practise exactly opposite to what the holy Quran
preaches.

"What terrorists seek, besides killing and maiming
innocent people, is to divide societies," he said. PTI AKK
BDS