LONDON, Aug. 14 (UPI) -- Britain's Muslim communities must do more to combat growing extremism within their ranks, Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said Monday.
Speaking after three hours of talks with Muslim leaders, she said the government also had to step up efforts to win hearts and minds and increase cooperation with Muslim communities in the fight against terrorism.
The meetings are part of a renewed government effort to engage with British Muslims, four days after police disrupted an alleged plot to blow up airliners en route from Britain to the United States.
Police have 23 people in custody in connection with the conspiracy, most of whom are reported to be British-born young men of Pakistani origin.
Kelly told reporters after the talks that she had discussed ways of ensuring that if there was frustration, there were "democratic channels for that to be vented."
"There is a battle of hearts and minds to be won within the Muslim community," she added.
She said the government had to work with the Muslim community "to take on the terrorist and extremist elements that are sometimes found within it, not just in the Muslim community, but elsewhere as well."
Kelly rejected any link between British foreign policy and the growth in home-grown extremism.
But some community leaders said the impact of British actions abroad on young Muslims should not be ignored.
Khurshid Ahmed, chairman of the British Muslim Forum, said that while no one was suggesting British foreign policy was singularly responsible for the rise in extremism, it was causing a "massive amount of disquiet" within the community.
"And some of our young people have the perception that this foreign policy is directed against the Muslim world and therefore needs to be looked at.
"And all we're asking for is a review, and -- if necessary -- a change."
