Extremists targeted in "hearts and minds" campaign

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain must win Muslims' hearts and minds to help combat homegrown terrorism rather than relying solely on tighter security, the government will say on Thursday.

Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly will talk of the need to help Muslim leaders isolate religious extremists "from the overwhelming majority who are disgusted by terrorist attacks".

Four British Islamists killed 52 people in the July 7, 2005 suicide bombings in London. The head of the domestic security service MI5 said last year that 1,600 mostly British-born suspects were being watched.

Close surveillance and policing must be coupled with better community relations to tackle the threat posed by extremists, Kelly will say.

"Success will hinge on forging a new alliance against violent extremism," she will say in a speech in London, according to a preview released to the BBC.

"We need to reach out and give greater support to the overwhelming majority who are disgusted by terrorist attacks carried out in the name of Islam."

Earlier, she said the government had "tried to win this battle from Whitehall" instead of working with Britain's 1.6 million Muslims.

"We have concentrated so far rightly on the security response and at all points we have to keep that under review," she told BBC radio. "What I don't think we've really done sufficiently to date is win hearts and minds of those in Muslim communities."

Under the plans, the Charity Commission will get money to support Mosque leaders and guidance on teaching citizenship in Muslim schools.