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Labour peer denies calling for bounty on Barack Obama Labour peer denies calling for bounty on Barack Obama
(about 4 hours later)
The Labour peer Lord Ahmed has denied allegations that he called for a bounty to be put on the head of Barack Obama.The Labour peer Lord Ahmed has denied allegations that he called for a bounty to be put on the head of Barack Obama.
Labour suspended Ahmed on Sunday night after week-old reports of his alleged remarks were brought to the party's attention.Labour suspended Ahmed on Sunday night after week-old reports of his alleged remarks were brought to the party's attention.
Ahmed, a member of the party for 37 years, said he was not given a chance to give his views before he was suspended. He has been in touch with the Labour leader in the Lords, Baroness Royall, to make himself available for any questioning by party officials.Ahmed, a member of the party for 37 years, said he was not given a chance to give his views before he was suspended. He has been in touch with the Labour leader in the Lords, Baroness Royall, to make himself available for any questioning by party officials.
The alleged remarks, reported in the Express Tribune newspaper in Pakistan, were said to have been made in response to the announcement by Washington this month of a $10m bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group. The alleged remarks, reported in the Express Tribune newspaper in Pakistan, were said to have been made after the announcement by Washington this month of a $10m bounty for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Hafiz Saeed, founder of the Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group based in Pakistan.
According to the Express Tribune, Ahmed said: "If the US can announce a reward of $10m for the capture of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10m on President Obama and his predecessor George Bush."According to the Express Tribune, Ahmed said: "If the US can announce a reward of $10m for the capture of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10m on President Obama and his predecessor George Bush."
Ahmed insisted the quotes were a fabrication. "In three speeches in Pakistan I expressed the view that in my opinion George Bush and Tony Blair should be brought to the international criminal court to face charges for war crimes," he said. Ahmed insisted the quotes were a fabrication. "In three speeches in Pakistan I expressed the view that in my opinion George Bush and Tony Blair should be brought to the international criminal court to face charges for war crimes," he said. "I said I would help provide money to fund that if necessary. It was not as though I was saying I would sell my house.
"I said I would help provide money to fund that if necessary. It was not as though I was saying I would sell my house. What I have said is a common view in towns like Bradford where Labour lost in the byelection. If the Labour party reacts to this by trying to suppress people's opinions there will be a reaction. Labour has to recognise that many people think like I do. "What I have said is a common view in towns like Bradford where Labour lost in the byelection. If the Labour party reacts to this by trying to suppress people's opinions there will be a reaction. Labour has to recognise that many people think like I do.
"What I said in Pakistan I have said many times in London. I do not feel the international criminal court in The Hague is a body in which only Asians and Africans face justice. But there has to be due process. I never mentioned the word bounty or referred to Obama. "What I said in Pakistan I have said many times in London. I do not feel the international criminal court in The Hague is a body in which only Asians and Africans face justice. But there has to be due process. I never mentioned the word bounty or referred to Obama."
He added: "I think it is wrong to bomb schoolchildren in Afghanistan or to bomb weddings in Iraq, or not tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction. It is an utter lie to suggest I would put up a bouny of £10m. I understand there is a tape to prove what I have said." He added: "I think it is wrong to bomb schoolchildren in Afghanistan or to bomb weddings in Iraq, or not tell the truth about weapons of mass destruction. It is an utter lie to suggest I would put up a bounty of £10m. I understand there is a tape to prove what I have said."
The Indian government has accused Saeed and his organisation of carrying out several militant attacks on its territory, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.The Indian government has accused Saeed and his organisation of carrying out several militant attacks on its territory, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Ahmed said he knew nothing about Saeed, except that he had not yet been found guilty of any charge.Ahmed said he knew nothing about Saeed, except that he had not yet been found guilty of any charge.
Ahmed was born in Pakistan and has lived in Rotherham, in South Yorkshire, since his childhood. He was the first British Muslim peer. Ahmed was born in Pakistan and has lived in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, since childhood. He was the first British Muslim peer.