Baroness Thatcher criticizes British Muslim leaders

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has drawn criticism for an interview in which she criticized the response of Muslim leaders in Britain to the terror attacks in America.

The Conservative former premier told The Times on Wednesday that Muslim leaders had not spoken out strongly enough about the September 11 atrocities.

"The people who brought down those towers were Muslims and Muslims must stand up and say that is not the way of Islam," she said in an edition of the newspaper published late Wednesday.

"Passengers on those planes were told that they were going to die and there were children on board. They must say that is disgraceful. I have not heard enough condemnation from Muslim priests."

The intervention of Baroness Thatcher comes despite repeated press briefings and statements by Muslim groups in Britain condemning the attacks.

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Home Secretary David Blunkett have also held high profile meetings with Muslim leaders to reassure the community that a US­led response to the terror attacks would be against terrorists, not greater Islam.

"What happened in America was not the work of Islamic terrorists, it was not the work of Muslim terrorists. It was the work of terrorists pure and simple," Blair has said.

Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, said Wednesday he was "sad and surprised" at Thatcher's comments.

"On the question of terrorism, we are all on the same side. We all want the people who did this to be identified, brought to trial and given whatever punishment they deserve," he said.

"All Muslim organizations expressed immediately their horror and shock at what happened. We have said it once, why do we need to keep on saying it?"

Britain is estimated to have up to 1.5 million Muslims, mostly descendants of immigrants from southern Asia. Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the Muslim Council of Britain has reported an increase in harassment of members of the Muslim community, causing police to step up security at mosques.