UK Drops Plans To Close Mosques

The controversial plan to give police new powers to close mosques used by extremists are to be dropped from new terrorism legislation, Britain's Home Secretary Charles Clarke announced on December 15th.

The proposal, which was criticized by muslim leaders, was one of a number of plans drawn up in the wake of the July 7 attacks on London's public transportation system.

Clarke told members of the Parliament in a written statement:
"I will not seek to legislate on this issue at the present time, although we will keep the matter under review."

The move follows Prime Minister Tony Blair's first defeat in Lower House of Commons in his eight-year tenure, over a proposal to hold terror suspects up to 90 days without charge.

Clarke proposed in October that police should have powers to close places of worship temporarily, including mosques, forcing administrative councils or registered owners to take action.