Random searches and CCTV proposed in Australia

CANBERRA - Momentum is growing in Australia for new measures to counter terrorism, including even tougher laws, closed circuit television networks, and random bag searches at train and bus stations.

Anger is also growing against local radical Islamic groups that preach jihad against the West and support terrorist Osama bin Laden, adding to emerging strains in the nation's large and mainly anti-terror Muslim community.

The former head of the British national criminal intelligence service, Sir John Wheeler, is already reviewing security at Australia's airports, and other experts have been invited to review the nation's anti-terror measures following the London bombings.

New South Wales Premier Bob Carr intends seeking advice on the effectiveness of New York-style random bag checks for Sydney's rail and bus services, and official interest has soared in the potential for intensive use of CCTV in the big cities.

Similar advice will be sought by the Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie.

The key role played by CCTV in the investigations after the London bombings has impressed Australian law and counter-terror agencies, who regard an eventual attack somewhere on the continent as inevitable.

Prime Minister John Howard, who was in London when bombers made their second attack on the city, described the value of its CCTV network as "invaluable".

Sir John told ABC radio that provided CCTV coverage and monitoring was properly coordinated, it had a crucial role to play in the prevention of terror attacks. Even when it failed to do so, CCTV was important in identifying perpetrators and involving the public in investigations.

"Those of you who have been following the terrible attacks on the London Underground have seen so graphically how the images of the likely offenders have been produced around the world, so the public are involved."

Sydney already has hundreds of CCTV cameras through the central business district and its transport system, but other major cities are now reviewing whether their networks are adequate.

But official Australian interest in Britain's counter-terror measures has also raised concerns, especially among civil libertarians and others alarmed at Howard's praise for the handling of the bombings despite the killing of an innocent man.

Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police after being mistaken for a terrorist.

Howard described the mistake as tragic, but refused to be drawn on whether federal agencies had permission to shoot-to-kill, saying only that existing rules were appropriate.

He has also sidestepped mounting criticism of calls for a national identity card - including from within his own party - and promised that he would not turn Australia into a police state to protect it from terrorists.

"You have an obligation to take whatever measures are reasonable and proper to protect the community and that is what I'm sure the overwhelming majority of Australians feel."

A Morgan poll found that 62 per cent of Australians supported a national ID card.

Howard has also attacked Melbourne imam Sheikh Mohammed Omran, who publicly praised bin Laden as a "great man" and believes that Muslims are not responsible for most terror attacks, including the September 11, 2001, outrages.

"He has a right to express that view in a free society and I have a right to say that it is a view that the overwhelming majority of Muslims in this country ... would find that kind of statement unacceptable, and Australians generally would find it unacceptable," he told ABC radio.

Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said Australia should have zero tolerance for comments supporting terrorism. "Frankly, I don't believe that these sorts of comments, or any individual making these sorts of comments in defence of a mass murderer, have any place in Australia."

In an open letter to Howard, Omran said the criticism was inflammatory and that he and his supporters were advocates of peace.