The British government hopes to quickly introduce new anti-terrorism legislation, the country's top legal officer said.
Charles Falconer, who is Lord Chancellor, said Sunday that the government hoped to agree on a timetable for new measures soon.
"We should not rush into things because these things need careful thought," Falconer told BBC radio's Westminster Hour program. "But if the opposition parties and the police can reach a consensus with us then we can do it very quickly."
At least 55 were killed and 700 injured when bombs ripped through three subway trains and a double-decker bus during rush hour in central London on July 7. Prime Minister Tony Blair's government has considerably tightened anti-terror laws in the past five years, but ministers want new powers to tackle those on the fringes of terrorism.
The new legislation is likely to outlaw "indirect incitement" of terrorism, including praising those who carry out attacks -- a new offense designed to counter extremist Islamist clerics blamed for radicalizing pockets of disaffected Muslim youth in Britain.
The legislation is also likely to make it an offense to receive training in terrorist techniques in Britain or abroad and to plan a terrorist act. Associating with members of a banned terrorist organization is also likely to be banned. The government also is reviewing its powers to exclude and deport people from Britain -- again with the hope of acting against radical clerics. Blair's government has struggled in the past to push anti-terrorism legislation through parliament due to opposition fears that new measures would erode civil rights.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke was scheduled to meet yesterday with his counterparts from the opposition Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. Blair will meet today with leaders from Britain's Muslim community and on Thursday with police, intelligence and security officials.
Further debate was called on allowing evidence from telephone taps to be used in court. The government is opposed to such a move, fearing it may compromise the work of intelligence agencies.
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