Brown, Zardari join to combat terrorism

LONDON, April 10 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari are working together in counter-terrorism efforts.

Brown confirmed he had spoken with Zardari following the arrest of 11 Pakistani nationals in Britain on charges of planning terrorist attacks, Pakistan's English-language newspaper, Dawn, reported Friday.

"We want the closest of cooperation between Britain and Pakistan to deal with countering terrorism and I think one of the lessons we are learning from the events of the past few years is that Pakistan has got to do more to root out the terrorist elements in its country as well," Brown said Thursday.

Brown also took time while visiting Carlisle, England, Thursday to credit police with foiling potential terror attacks on British soil, Dawn said.

"We had to act pre-emptively to ensure the safety of the public," Brown said. "The safety of the public is the paramount concern in everything that we do."