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Blair Defends Britain's Anti-Terror Legislation

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British Prime Minister Tony Blair has defended his government's efforts to toughen anti-terror laws by deporting extremists and holding terror suspects for three months without charges.

In a radio interview Friday, Mr. Blair said anyone living in the country must play by the rules and not incite acts of terrorism like the deadly July 7 suicide bomb attacks in London.

The prime minister says virtually every nation in Europe is strengthening anti-terror legislation. He says people criticizing his government's proposals as a violation of civil rights are exaggerating.

On Thursday, British authorities ordered the deportation of seven Algerians regarded as threats to national security.

Civil rights activists have criticized proposed anti-terror laws as counterproductive, contending that suspects would be deported to countries with poor human rights records.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.

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