Islamic cleric calls U.K. soldiers 'Nazis'

LONDON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- An Islamic cleric, founder of two organizations banned in Britain as terrorist, compared English soldiers fighting in Afghanistan to Nazis, authorities say.

Anjem Choudary is a British citizen of Pakistani descent who in the past has urged Muslims not to cooperate with police in fighting terrorism, The Sun reported. He appeared on the English radio show Sun Talk Monday after the program confirmed he had sent an open letter to families of fallen soldiers urging them to convert to Islam "to save yourselves from the hellfire," the newspaper said.

Choudary said he opposed crowds honoring Britain's fallen, such as those in the town of Wootton Bassett, a village famous for such demonstrations. He compared the dead soldiers to Nazis, the suicide bombers of Sept. 11, 2001, and coordinated suicide bomb attackers of the London Transport System July 7, 2005.

"The same could be said about the Germans fighting for Nazism in the Second World War. Those involved in 7/7 and 9/11 considered themselves to be soldiers. How would the British people feel if there was a parade for those who carried out 9/11 or 7/7?"

The talk show host said that kind of march would be act of "treason."

"It may be considered against the British Government and Foreign policy. If that is treason, then yes, I am treasonous," Choudary said.