British Prime Minister Tony Blair prepared for questions Friday about a possible link between the Iraq War and the London bombings, after a videotaped message from al-Qaeda linked the attacks to Britain's involvement in the US-led offensive.
Blair has steadfastly rejected any connection between the presence of British troops in Iraq and the July 7 and July 21 attacks, but the issue is likely to be raised again at his monthly news conference.
In a message broadcast Thursday on the pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Jazeera, al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri embraced the London suicide bombings.
"Blair has brought to you destruction in central London, and he will bring more of that, God willing," al-Zawahri said in the message. He did not directly claim responsibility for the attacks.
One of the men arrested on suspicion of trying to bomb a subway train near London's Shepherd's Bush station on July 21 has reportedly told investigators he was motivated by anger over the Iraq war. Hamdi Issac, held in Rome on international terrorism charges, faces an extradition hearing for removal to Britain on Aug. 17.
Blair committed British troops to the US-led offensive despite widespread public opposition and any suggestion the war has made Britain more of a terrorist target is politically very sensitive for the government. His news conference last month was dominated by the issue, and Blair repeatedly dismissed a connection, saying terrorists would seize on any excuse to sow destruction.
Two sisters were scheduled to appear at London's Bow Street Magistrates Court late yesterday to face terrorism-related charges in the wake of the July 21 bombings. Weshshiembet Girma, 29, and Muluemebet Girma, 21, of separate addresses in south London, were charged with failing to disclose information that could have helped police investigating the attacks.
London police have not established firm links between the London bombings and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. In both attacks, bombers targeted three subway trains and a bus in central London. The July 7 attacks killed 52 people and four suicide bombers, but two weeks later the devices failed to fully explode and no one was killed.
At yesterday's meeting, Blair's office said the prime minister would brief reporters on new anti-terrorism measures planned by the government in the wake of the attacks.
By the year's end, Blair wants to pass legislation that would outlaw "indirect incitement" of terrorism -- targeting extremist Islamic clerics who glorify acts of terrorism and seduce impressionable Muslim youth. The law would ban receiving training in terrorist techniques in Britain or abroad. A new offense of "acts preparatory to terrorism" would outlaw planning an attack and activities such as acquiring bomb-making instructions on the Internet.
Blair's government is also reviewing its powers to exclude or deport radical clerics, and says people banned from the US and other EU states will automatically be red flagged for possible exclusion from Britain.
The police presence on London's streets and sprawling subway system was more low key yesterday. Some 6,000 officers, many heavily armed with submachine guns and pistols, patrolled the capital on Thursday to reassure Londoners exactly four weeks on from the deadly July 7 attacks.
Britain is holding 14 suspects in connection with the investigation, and Italy has three.
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