LONDON, July 26, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Tuesday, July 26, that the world must make progress on issues used by terrorists as a reason for violence such as the Middle East conflict, admitting that the Iraq war was used to recruit terrorists.

"There are obviously certain things in government and the international community we have to do to try to take away the legitimate causes upon which people prey," Blair told his regular monthly press conference, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

He asserted that making progress on issues such as Palestinian statehood was "important".

"There is a legitimate concern but that doesn't justify in the slightest way the suicide bombings or terrorism, but there is a concern about that and you have to deal with it," he said.

Two days after the July 7 attacks on London, which killed 56 people including four bombers, Blair admitted there can be no security solution to terrorist attacks, urging the world to address the underlying causes of terrorism.

David Clark, a former Labour government adviser, has said that it is time for a rethink as it should be clear by now that the world cannot defeat terrorism with conventional force alone.

"The political dimensions of this problem mean that there can be no hope of defeating terrorism until we are ready to take legitimate Arab grievances seriously," he wrote in the Guardian on July 9.

Major believes that the Iraq war made Britain vulnerable to terror.

In an obvious retreat from his earlier stance, Blair acknowledged Iraq was being used to recruit terrorists, but insisted the roots of extremism were much deeper, reported the BBC News Online.

He was repeatedly quizzed about whether the Iraq war was partly to blame for London being targeted by bombers twice this month.

"They will always have a reason, and I am not saying any of these things don't affect their warped reasoning and warped logic as to what they do or that they don't use these things to try and recruit people.

"But I do say we shouldn't compromise with it. I'm not saying anyone says any of these things justify it, but we shouldn't even allow them the vestige of an excuse for what they do."

Former British prime minister Sir John Major joined Monday, July 25, a chorus of former officials and prominent writers who believe that the Iraq war had heightened the threat of terrorist attacks in Britain.

An ICM poll for the Guardian found on July 19 that two-thirds of Britons believe the July 7 bombings in were linked to Blair's support for the US-led invasion of Iraq.

The "ill-considered venture" of invading Iraq has turned into a "mess" fueling attacks around the world and providing Al-Qaeda with sympathizers across the Muslim world, award-winning British reporter Patrick Cockburn wrote Monday, July 25 in the Independent.

Defiant Blair further said that the world, whatever excuse or justification used by terrorists, should not give one inch to them.

"Not in this country and the way we live our lives here…Not in Iraq, not in Afghanistan, not in our support for two states, Israel and Palestine, not in our support for the alliances we choose, including with America. Not one inch do we give to these people."

He went on: "There is no justification for suicide bombing whether in Palestine, Iraq, in London, in Egypt, in Turkey, anywhere. In the United States of America, there is no justification for it.

"And we will start to beat this when we stand up and confront the ideology of this evil not just the methods but the ideas."

Blair urged the world on July 16 to launch a hearts-and-minds struggle to confront the "evil ideology" of Islamic extremism.

He also pledged to work with Muslims in Britain to promote the "moderate and true voice" of Islam.

"So far as the three-month period of detention which the police have asked for, we see very considerable difficulties in that," Howard said.

At the press conference, Blair supported giving police expanded powers of detention under proposed changes to anti-terror laws.

"I think it's perfectly reasonable for us in circumstances of great difficulty to have a greater detention in order that there can be the interrogation of people who are suspected of doing this," he said.

"People rightly expect us to take the right measures to increase their security."

Blair earlier Tuesday held a summit with opposition leaders to discuss possible changes to anti-terror laws including police demands to hold suspects without charge for up to three months.

He has been keen to consult opposition parties to ensure bipartisan support for extending police powers.

Opposition Conservative party leader Michael Howard said after the meeting all sides of politics must "work together," but warned that he had concerns about the increased detention.

"So far as the three-month period of detention which the police have asked for, we see very considerable difficulties in that," he said.

Police said on Monday two men had been arrested under anti-terrorism laws -- bringing the total in custody to five.

They are still hunting the four suspected bombers behind botched attacks on London's transport network on July 21 that have raised fears among residents that the city is now a firm target for terrorists.