Blair wants crackdown on Pakistani madrassahs

Blair wants Pakistan to scan seminaries

* Afghanistan joins UK to condemn madrassas
* Blair meets Muslim leaders, says Iraq and Afghanistan only ‘an excuse’ for terrorists

LONDON: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Tuesday he was ‘anxious’ for Pakistani authorities to crack down on hardline religious seminaries, which some of the London bombers are thought to have attended.

Britain had been working with the Pakistani government to take measures against seminaries, which might teach extremist views, Blair told reporters in London.

He and his government were “very anxious to make sure that the measures are taken that do deal with the extremist teaching in these places”, the prime minister said.

“And I am sure that is in the interest of Pakistan as well, because Pakistan suffers from these terrorists,” he added.

Blair urges Pakistan to deal with Madaris