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Blair Meets British Muslims
Thursday, September 27, 2001
The Guardian Staff and agencies

The prime minister, Tony Blair, met leaders of Britain's Muslim community at Downing Street this afternoon to reassure them that the pro-US alliance was not at war with Islam or the people of Afghanistan.

He described recent attacks on Muslims as "despicable".

Acknowledging the scale of the refugee crisis as Afghans try to flee the Taliban and possible attacks upon their country, the prime minister called for a "humanitarian coalition" involving a "massive assistance programme".

"We are engaged in a fight against terrorism on all fronts," he said, urging people to be vigilant but to continue to go about their daily lives as usual.
(More: The Guardian News Source)
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2001

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