June 19, 2002	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 7, 1423

LONDON, June 18: Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said on Tuesday that young Palestinians felt they had no choice but to blow themselves up.

“As long as young people feel they have got no hope but to blow themselves up, you are never going to make progress,” she said, appearing alongside Queen Rania of Jordan at the launch of a 500,000 pound charity appeal in London aimed at improving medical assistance for thousands of Palestinians.

But she was quickly forced into a public apology after coming under fire from the opposition and pro-Israeli groups.

A spokeswoman said: “If any offence has been taken from the interpretation of her comments then Mrs Blair is obviously sorry.

“None was intended and it goes without saying that she condemns the atrocity today in the strongest possible terms along with all right-minded people.

“She did not and never would she ever condone suicide bombers or say they had no choice.”

The remarks were condemned by opposition deputies while the Israeli embassy in London expressed its “regret that any public statements which might be interpreted as expressing understanding for Palestinian terrorism should be made”.

Foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition Conservatives, Michael Ancram, said the prime minister’s wife had used the “most unfortunate words”.

“These words will cause massive offence,” he said. “There can never be any justification for terrorist violence, particularly of the kind we saw in Israel this morning.”

BLAIR DEFENDS WIFE: The prime minister ran to the defence of his wife.

“First of all I hope that no-one misdescribes her sentiments, or mine or anyone else’s,” he told reporters.

“Everybody in this situation feels nothing but the deepest sympathy for the people who have lost their lives in the latest terrorist attack. Terrorism offers absolutely no future, no way out of that process whatsoever,” he added.

“But of course it is true that we need to make sure that there is hope for the future and the hope lies in the political process taking the place of the extremists, the terrorists and the suicide bombers.

“And I am sure that is what Cherie was saying, as everyone who has looked at this problem knows is the case,” said the prime minister.

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned as “evil beyond words” the suicide bombing in occupied Al Quds during morning rush-hour traffic.

“The detonation of a bomb on a bus carrying schoolchildren is an act of evil beyond words. My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” he said.

Following her visit to the London offices of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Queen Rania said: “Today’s events are a clear reminder that both sides of the conflict are suffering. It is also clear that the suffering cannot continue.

“The one sure way for hope for both peoples is to have a political solution that will bring about the end of occupation for Palestinians and security for Israelis and for the people of the region.

“Delaying the political peace process inevitably exposes more innocent civilians on both sides to grave danger,” she added.

Rania is of Palestinian origin like nearly half the five-million population of Jordan.—AFP