UK to start crackdown on 'hate preachers'

Clarke also dismissed criticism of a plan by the government to deport security suspects to countries with poor human rights records, such as Jordan.

"The rules of the game have changed, both here and abroad," said the minister, writing in the London Evening Standard newspaper.

"So for example this week I will be publishing and then acting upon new ways of dealing with preachers of intolerance and hatred and extremists who try to exploit the openness of our society to oppress others," he said.

Clarke emphasised the need to protect Britain's tradition of tolerance.

"(T)hat means cracking down on those who preach intolerance and abuse free speech to justify terrorism, advocate violence or foster hatred," he said.

The measures are expected to include powers to close mosques where clerics are suspected of supporting extremist activities through fiery speeches and to deport those who glorify suicide bombers.

Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch, have criticised Britain's plan to deport security suspects to Jordan or other countries in the Middle East and northern Africa due to the high risk of torture.

Clarke, however, dismissed such concerns as "entirely misplaced."

He said: "I think that such an orchestrated chorus of criticism is entirely misplaced. Of course out agreements rightly include a guarantee of independent monitoring. They rightly seek to guarantee fundamental human rights."

Meanwhile, two senior Brazilian officials were due to arrive in Britain yesterday to grill police officers and investigators about the fatal shooting of a Brazilian man mistaken for a suicide bomber exactly a month ago.

Jean Charles de Menezes, 27, was killed on July 22 by anti-terror officers as he boarded a subway train in south London, when tensions in the city were high just one day after a failed attempt to repeat the July 7 bombings.