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| PM warns Islamic group over march | PM warns Islamic group over march |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| The prime minster has issued a warning to a radical Islamic group planning a protest march through a Wiltshire town famous for honouring fallen soldiers. | The prime minster has issued a warning to a radical Islamic group planning a protest march through a Wiltshire town famous for honouring fallen soldiers. |
| Islam4UK, said to have extremist links, has written to bereaved families about plans to march through Wootton Bassett. | Islam4UK, said to have extremist links, has written to bereaved families about plans to march through Wootton Bassett. |
| Gordon Brown said anything which families of dead or wounded troops could find offensive would be "completely inappropriate". | |
| Anjem Choudary, of Islam4UK, said he chose the town to attract publicity. | Anjem Choudary, of Islam4UK, said he chose the town to attract publicity. |
| 'Symbolic coffins' | 'Symbolic coffins' |
| But the Islam4UK, said to call itself a "platform" for the extremist movement al-Muhajiroun, has not yet applied for police permission or set a date for the event. | But the Islam4UK, said to call itself a "platform" for the extremist movement al-Muhajiroun, has not yet applied for police permission or set a date for the event. |
| Its leader Mr Choudary wants to carry "symbolic empty coffins" through the town's high street, which is now famous as the place where people gather to pay tribute to troops killed in Afghanistan. | Its leader Mr Choudary wants to carry "symbolic empty coffins" through the town's high street, which is now famous as the place where people gather to pay tribute to troops killed in Afghanistan. |
| A spokesman for the prime minister said: "We do not yet know what his [Anjem Choudary's] plans are. | A spokesman for the prime minister said: "We do not yet know what his [Anjem Choudary's] plans are. |
| "The only thing he seems to have said is that it is an idea he is considering. | "The only thing he seems to have said is that it is an idea he is considering. |
| "He would need to have the appropriate contact with the right people in Wootton Bassett to secure approval. | "He would need to have the appropriate contact with the right people in Wootton Bassett to secure approval. |
| The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them. Anjem Choudary - Islam4UK | The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them. Anjem Choudary - Islam4UK |
| "The prime minister's view would be obviously that anything that is considered to be offensive to, or of concern to, families of troops wounded or killed in Afghanistan would be completely inappropriate." | "The prime minister's view would be obviously that anything that is considered to be offensive to, or of concern to, families of troops wounded or killed in Afghanistan would be completely inappropriate." |
| Mr Choudary, a former lawyer, has written a letter on the organisation's website entitled "To the families of British soldiers who have fallen", explaining reasons for the planned march. | Mr Choudary, a former lawyer, has written a letter on the organisation's website entitled "To the families of British soldiers who have fallen", explaining reasons for the planned march. |
| He said the event, if permitted by police, would involve peaceful "symbolic coffins" being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict in Afghanistan. | He said the event, if permitted by police, would involve peaceful "symbolic coffins" being carried to honour Muslim victims of the conflict in Afghanistan. |
| Mr Choudary said: "The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them. | Mr Choudary said: "The procession is not actually about the people of Wootton Bassett and it never was about them. |
| "We are having a procession, it's in Wootton Bassett but it's not about the people there and it's not against them personally - rather it's to highlight the real cost of war in Afghanistan. | "We are having a procession, it's in Wootton Bassett but it's not about the people there and it's not against them personally - rather it's to highlight the real cost of war in Afghanistan. |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now. | "The sad reality of the situation is that if I were to hold it somewhere else it would not have the media attention that it has now. |
| "If I am to balance between the sensitivity of having it in Wootton Bassett and the possibility of continuing the quagmire and cycle of death in Afghanistan, then quite honestly I'm going to balance in favour of the latter. | "If I am to balance between the sensitivity of having it in Wootton Bassett and the possibility of continuing the quagmire and cycle of death in Afghanistan, then quite honestly I'm going to balance in favour of the latter. |
| "In the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be engaging with the local community and the public at large by way of press releases and letters to explain why we're having this march." | "In the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be engaging with the local community and the public at large by way of press releases and letters to explain why we're having this march." |
| The former mayor of Wootton Bassett Chris Wannell said: "I know we still have freedom of speech and freedom of movement, but I think that Mr Choudary has made a bad choice. | The former mayor of Wootton Bassett Chris Wannell said: "I know we still have freedom of speech and freedom of movement, but I think that Mr Choudary has made a bad choice. |
| "I would hope he would examine himself and say, 'no I'm doing the wrong thing here', and go somewhere else. | "I would hope he would examine himself and say, 'no I'm doing the wrong thing here', and go somewhere else. |
| "I think if Mr Choudary has any decency about him he will not march in Wootton Bassett." | "I think if Mr Choudary has any decency about him he will not march in Wootton Bassett." |
| Islam4UK said it would not coincide with a repatriation ceremony. | Islam4UK said it would not coincide with a repatriation ceremony. |