PM pledge to tackle "deep-rooted" terrorism
24 April 2007
Tony Blair has warned that terrorism continues to be a global threat and needs to be fought whether it is in "Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else".
His comments came on the day he hosted the first meeting of a new terrorism committee in Downing Street which brings together security chiefs as well as senior police and Cabinet ministers.
Today's meeting received an assessment of the current threat to the UK from the new Director General of the Security Service, Jonathan Evans.
Speaking about terrorism on BBC Breakfast, Mr Blair said:
"We have to fight it whether it's in Iraq or Afghanistan or anywhere else. This is a very deep-rooted problem right round the world... if we don't fight it it's going to come after us."
Mr Blair said the situation in Iraq was "hugely difficult" but insisted that ordinary Iraqi people did not want the violence.
"It's difficult because you have external elements - al-Qaeda up near Baghdad, and Iranian-backed elements down in Basra - who are deliberately creating the problem.
"If you talk to ordinary Iraqis - whether they are Sunni or Shia - they want to live together. You have these outside terrorists coming in and linking up with internal extremists and causing this carnage."
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