Leicester Mercury

Tuesday, January 12, 2010, 09:30

Muslim community leaders have welcomed a radical Islamic group's decision not to march in the town where Britain's war dead are honoured.

Islam4UK has announced that it no longer intended to stage a parade in Wootton Bassett to commemorate civilians killed in Afghanistan.

Wootton Bassett has become famous for paying tribute as the bodies of British troops repatriated from Afghanistan pass through the Wiltshire town.

Activists in Leicester contacted the Mercury last week to announce they hoped to send two coachloads of supporters to the Islam4UK demonstration.

Suleman Nagdi, a spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, which represents mosques and Islamic community groups, said he was "glad and relieved" the march had been called off.

He said: "I hope this case has demonstrated to the British public that the vast majority of Muslims have nothing in common with groups like this."