Britain could be hated as much as US, say Muslims

Britain's largest Muslim organisation warned yesterday that the country would become as hated in the Islamic world as America if it took part in an attack on Iraq.

Iqbal Sacranie, secretary general of the moderate Muslim Council of Britain, said there was a growing feeling among British Muslims that the war on terror was being used as a pretext for invading Iraq to control oil resources.

He also accused the Government of ostracising and excluding the Muslim community at the same time as lecturing them about integration.

Mr Sacranie, who was launching a book on the aftermath of 11 September called The Quest for Sanity, said the year after the attacks had seen irrational hatred and fear of Muslims, fuelled partly by Islamic extremists who were given prominence in the media.

Mr Sacranie said it was difficult to see how an attack on Iraq for failing to meet United Nations resolutions could be justified when UN resolutions had been ignored in Israel and Kashmir for 50 years. The stated reasons for an attack were not convincing and there was a growing view that control of oilfields was an important factor.

"If this is the reason then there can be no justification on moral grounds," he said.

"There is immense hatred against America in the Muslim world, but it is not directed against Britain. We do not want that to filter through to our country."

* The Liberal Democrats intensified the pressure on Tony Blair over next week's Commons vote on Iraq yesterday when they announced they would abstain in the emergency debate. Their move follows a similar announcement by the Conservatives and leaves the Government relying on loyal backbenchers to see off a left-wing rebellion. Anti-war MPs are vowing to force a vote, on a technical motion to adjourn the House, during Tuesday's recall of Parliament.