British Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to crack down on extremist Islamic clerics sparked alarm among the Muslims but won support from police.

On Friday, Blair announced proposals to deport foreign nationals who glorify acts of terror, bar radicals from entering Britain, close down mosques linked to extremism, ban certain Islamic groups and amend human rights laws if necessary.

The package of measures sparked alarm among many Muslim groups and lawyers.

A British Muslim group called the Islamic Forum Europe warned the measures could jeopardize national unity in Britain. The measures could "increase tensions and alienate communities"if they are carried out, the group's president Musleh Faradhi said.

The proposals are "counterproductive" and will "encourage more radicalization," he said, adding: "Many Muslims will perceive our prime minister as playing into the hands of the terrorists."

But the promise to end Britain's reputation as a sanctuary for extremism won backing from the police.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said he was "very pleased" with proposals such as a law to ban condoning or glorifying terrorism, the Sky News reported.

The police chief said there were no plans to close down specific mosques, but added: "There certainly are some specific people in mind."

He said: "What we are looking for is the people who are influential in spreading hate. That's the key."

"We certainly aren't attempting to go after everybody who has got an opinion with whom we disagree. The offense of condoning terrorism or fomenting terrorism is the issue that we have been after for some time," he added.

Britain's chief legal official, Lord Chancellor Charles Falconer, also said the terror attacks in London on July 7 made clear the government must act against people encouraging young people to become suicide bombers.

"I think there is a very widespread sense in the country subsequent to July 7 that things have changed," he told BBC radio.

"A new balance needs to be struck. It needs to be a lawful balance but it needs to be an effective balance," he said.

Source: Xinhua