Tuesday, August 9 2005 11:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Rejecting suggestions that Pakistan had played a 'pivotal' role in the July suicide bombings in London, President Pervez Musharraf has accused the British Government of being too soft on extremist activities on its soil.

Though he admitted that the two suspected bombers had visited Pakistan before the July 7, 2005 attacks, Musharraf insisted that they were radicalised in Britain and not in his country.

"Pakistan has not played a pivotal role. There is no such evidence to prove that," Musharraf told BBC2 documentary 'The New al Qaeda.'

He admitted that Pakistani officials have found some clues on certain contacts of telephone numbers that they (suspected bombers) contacted in the country.

"There were two of the bombers who came here and when they came here, who they contacted we are trying to find out and then we will be able to establish clearly linkages," he said.

Asserting that radicalisation of the bombers happened in Britain, Musharraf said the British Government should act quickly in its own interest.

"The indoctrination, the mindset did not change here. The mindset changed in the United Kingdom (UK)," he said.

"I think they should (take action), in their own interest and in the interest of our fight against terrorism," he said.

He also accused the Blair administration of being too soft on radical elements in the country. He said, "Yes I think so, absolutely," when asked a question in this regard.

He asked authorities to take strong action against extremist elements, including preaching of hate messages in mosques.

"This kind of hate campaign against anyone, whether it is against the Government or against another sect or other religion, should be stopped. That is not what the mosque is meant for," Musharraf said in the interview.

He said that the suicide bombers, who killed 52 people, may have picked up some tips in Pakistan but stressed their mindset changed in the UK.

Musharraf also suggested that the July 7, 2005 bombers were not experts and that the attack must have been masterminded by someone.

"Certainly these four boys, who killed themselves, were not experts in handling bombs and handling a complex operation like timing explosives and all that. So I'm sure there must be a brain behind it."

On the fact that the two of the bombers had visited Pakistan, Musharraf said, "Even if they visited Pakistan and they contacted some extremists here, the reality is that they have been in the UK for 20 years."

"They may have got some tips or some anything that is the only possibility in Pakistan. This radicalisation did not take place in the last visits of theirs in a few months. Radicalisation took place back at home, wherever they live in, in whatever condition and whoever they've been meeting and interacting with."

He admitted that a section of the people in Pakistan support al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, but asserted that the terror mastermind was not capable of producing a nuclear bomb.

"Well yes, I wouldn't deny this fact, that because of whatever has happened this man has taken on the stature of a hero in a certain kind of people, in certain, especially in the extremists and therefore he would have some abetters there, and that is the reality."