New deportation criteria announced

? Britain will deport any non-citizen who foments, justifies or glorifies terrorist violence, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said Wednesday, unveiling toughened criteria for remaining in the country in response to the July attacks on the transit system.

The pronouncement, aimed mainly at radical preachers, evoked criticism from civil liberties groups, who said that the new standards could infringe on Britain’s culture of free speech and erode liberties. They also expressed concern that some Islamic dissidents would face torture if forced back to their home countries.

Individuals “who seek to create fear, distrust and division in order to stir up terrorist activity will not be tolerated by the government or by our communities,” said Clarke as he presented the specific guidelines on what will and will not be allowed.

Clarke said the first deportations could take place in the next few days.

The changes follow the July 7 attack on London’s bus and Underground system that killed 52 people and an unsuccessful assault two weeks later.