Some Muslims speak out in favor of the US from BBC

Few of those on the march fitted the negative stereotype of young British Muslims resentful of the government, or attracted by militants.

Mohsin Abbas, from Manchester, said: "I want to... say how indebted we are to this government, as you know in many countries processions like this are not allowed."

Militant elements

But one of the organisers of the procession, Said Jafri, was adamant in his support for the coalition's tactics in Iraq.

"We respect what Tony Blair has done and the war on terror.

"The actions of al-Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden are not part of Islam. We are against what the Taleban did in Afghanistan, they killed 8,000 Shias.

"But Britain and the US need to tackle the root of terrorism not trim the leaves. Saudi Arabia is where the most militant elements come from.

"The UK is too soft on those who burn the Union Jack outside mosques and clerics like Omar Bakri and Abu Hamza - they should be deported.

"The Sunni and Shia communities are peaceful."


Now if they can get their leaders to say these kind of things on national television and radio we might begin to believe they are against terrorism.