Britain Drops 'War on Terror' Label

The words "war on terror" will no longer be used by the British government to describe attacks on the public, the country's chief prosecutor said Dec. 27.

Sir Ken Macdonald said terrorist fanatics were not soldiers fighting a war but simply members of an aimless "death cult."

The Director of Public Prosecutions said: 'We resist the language of warfare, and I think the government has moved on this. It no longer uses this sort of language."

London is not a battlefield, he said.

"The people who were murdered on July 7 were not the victims of war. The men who killed them were not soldiers," Macdonald said. "They were fantasists, narcissists, murderers and criminals and need to be responded to in that way."

His remarks signal a change in emphasis across Whitehall, where the "war on terror" language has officially been ditched.

Officials were concerned it could act as a recruiting tool for Al Qaeda, which is determined to manufacture a battle between Islam and the West.

The term "Islamic terrorist" will also no longer be used. Officials believe it is unhelpful because it appears to directly link the religion to terrorist atrocities.

In an interview with BBC Radio's World at One, Macdonald made a fresh attack on plans to extend beyond 28 days the length of time a terror suspect can be held without trial.

He said that the evidence had shown that the existing limit was working well and he accused ministers of legislating on the basis of 'hypotheticals'.

US condemns Pakistan suicide attack

WASHINGTON: The United States on Friday condemned the suicide attack at a mosque in Pakistan that targeted a former minister and close ally of President Pervez Musharraf and killed at least 54 people.

"Violence for political gain is never justified, and is even more disturbing during such a special holiday in the Islamic faith," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, upset that the bombing "killed and injured so many innocent people during the Eid al-Adha holiday."

"Terrorists continue to use violent tactics to foster fear and limit freedom," said McCormack. "Those responsible for the attack have demonstrated that they lack any compassion, humanity, or respect for faith."

Sherpao was reportedly unhurt in the attack, which hit as the mosque was crowded with Muslim faithful.

"We send our condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the Pakistani people," McCormack said.

No body parts of attacker found from blast site: NWFP IG

PESHAWAR: NWFP Inspector General of Police Mohammed Shareef Virk Saturday said as many as 48 people lost their lives and over 114 others were injured in suicide attack in Sherpao area of Charsadda.

Talking to Geo News here, IG NWFP said at least seven to eight kilogram explosive material was used in the blast.

Responding a question, he said in such an intense blast, clues are normally not found from the explosion site; that is why, the body parts of the suicide attacker could not be determined.

Continuing he said, ‘However, the teams of various investigation institutions are present in Jamia Masjid of Sherpao village and the evidences are being collected.’

Mohammed Shareef said that a team led by Additional Inspector General Police Fayyaz Toor has been constituted to probe into the incident, vowing the team will soon submit its report to the government.

The inquiry team also comprises DIG Mardan Ghulam Mohammed, SSP Kashif Alam and members of bomb disposal squad.

NWFP Inspector General of Police Mohammed Shareef Virk confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack.

13 killed in suicide attack in Iraq

A suicide bomber blew himself up on Thursday at the office of a local group fighting Al-Qaeda in the restive Iraqi province of Diyala, killing 13 people and wounding 15, officials said.
The bomber struck in the town of Qanan, south of Diyala's regional capital Baquba, police Captain Ahmed Mahmud from Baquba said.
A medic from Baquba hospital, Hassan Ahmed, also confirmed the attack.