Isolate extremist groups - Brown

Bridging religious divisions is crucial to thwarting extremism, Mr Brown says

Gordon Brown has insisted the UK will "step up" its efforts to isolate extremist groups to stop young people from being drawn towards terrorism.

Speaking at an inter-faith conference in New York, Mr Brown said bridging differences between religions and cultures was key to tackling extremism.

Mr Brown surprised many when he met former members of al-Qaeda during a visit to Saudi Arabia recently.

The UK security services are monitoring thousands of suspected extremists.

While stressing that the UK needs to remain "permanently vigilant" against the threat of terrorism, Mr Brown has also spoken of the importance of international co-operation and inter-faith dialogue to prevent young men from being radicalised and drawn to violence.

In a speech to the United Nations, Mr Brown said the UK "will continue to step up our campaign working with other countries to separate decent minded young people from the pressures of divisive and extremist advocates of terrorism".

He added: "The value of different faiths are already expressed in joint projects and common service."

Mr Brown is in the US for a critical meeting of world leaders which will discuss action to alleviate the global economic slowdown and seek to agree reform of the international financial system.

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