The overthrow of Saddam Hussein has not lessened the security threat to Britain from weapons of mass destruction and international terrorism, British MPs warned Thursday.
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said that "the war in Iraq may actually have impeded efforts to combat Osama bin Laden" and his al Qaeda network.
In a report on the foreign policy aspects of the war against terrorism, the committee said it was essential to rebuild relations with allies like France, following the disagreements over Iraq, in order to tackle terrorism effectively.
The report warned that although some senior al Qaeda leaders had been captured, those still at large, including bin Laden himself, "still had the capacity to lead and guide the organization towards further atrocities." "The war against Iraq may have enhanced the organization's appeal to Muslims, particularly in the Gulf region".
"The war in Iraq might in fact have impeded the war against al Qaeda," the report added. "In spite of some notable progress, al Qaeda continues to pose a substantial threat to British citizens in the United Kingdom and abroad."
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
