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UK outlaws Isis militant group behind Iraqi attacks UK outlaws Isis, the militant group behind Iraqi attacks
(35 minutes later)
The Islamist militant group that has seized control of parts of Iraq has been outlawed in the UK.The Islamist militant group that has seized control of parts of Iraq has been outlawed in the UK.
The Home Office said it would be a criminal offence to associate with or give financial backing to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis).The Home Office said it would be a criminal offence to associate with or give financial backing to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis).
"We want to send a strong message that terrorist activity is not tolerated wherever it happens," it said. The UK has ruled out a role in any possible military action but may give other support to the Iraqi government.
The UK has ruled out a role in any military action but said it may provide other support to the Iraqi government. Nick Clegg has warned that the turmoil in Iraq and Syria is a "very direct threat" to the safety of UK citizens.
The deputy prime minister said the UK would not provide "active frontline military resources" to support any action taken against Isis forces but added that the UK would not stand in the way of "well judged, well targeted action to assert some semblance of order in Iraq".
Foreign Secretary William Hague is making a statement to Parliament on events in Iraq after recent territorial advances by the Sunni-dominated Isis group.Foreign Secretary William Hague is making a statement to Parliament on events in Iraq after recent territorial advances by the Sunni-dominated Isis group.
'Useful weapon''Useful weapon'
He has also spoken to his counterpart in Iran about the crisis, amid reports that Tehran is considering military support to the Shia-led administration in Iraq.He has also spoken to his counterpart in Iran about the crisis, amid reports that Tehran is considering military support to the Shia-led administration in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the Home Office has proscribed Isis and four other groups, which it said had been involved in acts of terrorism in Syria.Meanwhile, the Home Office has proscribed Isis and four other groups, which it said had been involved in acts of terrorism in Syria.
"Proscription is a useful weapon in the armoury at the disposal of the government, police and security service to disrupt terrorist activity and protect the UK," said Home Office Minister James Brokenshire."Proscription is a useful weapon in the armoury at the disposal of the government, police and security service to disrupt terrorist activity and protect the UK," said Home Office Minister James Brokenshire.
"Today we have laid an order which will proscribe five groups with links to Syria."Today we have laid an order which will proscribe five groups with links to Syria.
"Four other groups operating in Syria are already proscribed. This means being a member of or supporting these organisations will be a criminal offence.""Four other groups operating in Syria are already proscribed. This means being a member of or supporting these organisations will be a criminal offence."
The other groups being outlawed are:The other groups being outlawed are:
'Heavy responsibility' Speaking at his monthly news conference, Mr Clegg said the conflicts in Syria and Iraq were clearly linked.
Earlier, Mr Hague told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the situation was worrying and the Iraqi government bore a "heavy responsibility" to try and get a grip on events. "The horrific crucible of violence in this bloody civil war in Syria undoubtedly is acting as a generator of violence and extremism which not only spills over to other countries in the region but also unfortunately poses a very direct threat to the safety of British citizens on the streets of Britain too," he said.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has called for the UK to consider some form of "targeted action" in Iraq to check the insurgents' advances but London Mayor Boris Johnson has said this would be "unhinged". The risk of Islamist Jihadists trained in Syria returning to the UK intent on violence was the "number one security issue" facing the government, he added.
The UK, Mr Hague said, was considering how it could provide assistance to the Iraqi government, ranging from humanitarian aid to help refugees to some form of "counter terrorism expertise". 'No appetite'
Although it was not sensible to "absolutely rule out all things out in all situations", Mr Hague said that the UK was not contemplating any direct involvement in Iraq. Mr Hague told MPs that up to 400 British citizens were fighting in Syria and Iraq.
"We are not planning any military intervention by the UK in this situation," he said. Although events in Iraq were a "serious threat" to international peace and security and the US was considering a range of options, he said the UK would not take part in any military action.
"In this situation, today, in Iraq, with what we have seen in recent days, are we looking at a British military intervention? No we are not. I can't be clearer than that." The UK's focus, he said, was on supporting a "democratic and sovereign Iraq" to resist the threats it faced and "to stop the spread of terrorism in Iraq and the region".
He added: "The US is more likely to have the assets and capability for any outside intervention than the UK but I stress again that Iraqi security and political leadership is of paramount importance in these circumstances." The UK would provide assistance "where appropriate and possible", including "counter-terrorism expertise", as well providing humanitarian aid and encouraging "political unity" among Shia, Sunni and Kurdish groups.
'Closed the door' The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Hague had "closed the door" to any UK involvement in military action in Iraq, mindful of the government's failure to get the backing of MPs for potential air strikes in Syria last year.
The BBC News Channel's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said this was "pretty categorical" and Mr Hague had "closed the door" to any UK involvement in military action.
However, Norman Smith said he understood a handful of UK military advisers may be sent to Iraq to provide technical support.However, Norman Smith said he understood a handful of UK military advisers may be sent to Iraq to provide technical support.
Mr Hague acknowledged that the government would find it difficult to get Parliament to agree to any military action after it rejected air strikes in Syria last year. 'Folly'
But he rejected the idea that the vote on Syria meant that Parliament would not vote in favour of military action in different circumstances. For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said he welcomed the assurance that military action was not being contemplated, adding that it would be "folly" to repeat past mistakes.
Mr Hague rejected suggestions that the turmoil in Iraq was a direct legacy of the US-UK led invasion of the country to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003. "For most British people including many of us who supported the action at the time, the fears of those opposed to the [2003] intervention have been vindicated by subsequent events," he said.
While errors had been made "in the aftermath" of the invasion, he said he did not think it had been a mistake itself for the UK to participate in the invasion. "It is futile to deny that subsequent history as surely as it would be folly to repeat it."
"It is entirely possible to say it was the right thing to remove Saddam Hussein but that mistakes were made in the aftermath," he said. Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there was "absolutely no appetite" in Parliament for direct military intervention.
On the wider issue of Western intervention in the Middle East, he added: "It is possible to argue that Western intervention makes these problems worse and it is possible to argue that the absence of Western intervention makes these things worse." While the 2003 Iraq invasion was not the "sole cause" of the current violence in the country, he said it had made a "significant contribution" to the turmoil being witnessed.
Rory Stewart, the new Conservative chair of the Commons defence committee, said the situation in Iraq was extremely complicated and the international community should be "incredibly cautious" about doing anything that might risk inflaming sectarian tensions.Rory Stewart, the new Conservative chair of the Commons defence committee, said the situation in Iraq was extremely complicated and the international community should be "incredibly cautious" about doing anything that might risk inflaming sectarian tensions.