RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: The United States government, among others, has accused Britain of being a safe haven to groups conspiring violent campaigns in their own countries. In response to the criticism, Britain passed a new terrorism law that went into effect Monday. Under the Terrorism 2000 Act, many resistance groups could be banned from having offices in Britain. The legislation also aims at cyber-terrorists. ITN has the story.</s>ROMILLY WEEKS, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new laws will allow ministers to add to a black list of banned terrorist organizations; only Irish groups, such as the IRA, are currently on the list. It is partly in response to complaints from foreign governments that Britain is being used as a fund-raising face for a growing number of dissidence in their supporters.</s>HAZIR TEMOURIAN, MIDDLE EAST EXPERT: The tigers in South Asia to the men of Osama Bin Laden -- the Saudi fanatics in the mountains of Afghanistan and to the armed Islamic group in Nigeria to even South America. They all have got major offices in London, they recruit, they set up funding organizations.</s>WEEKS: The government's responded by extending the definition of terrorism, and giving police new powers to arrest those collecting funds for outlawed groups. Once an exclusively political crime, the new definition also includes those motivated by religious or ideological causes. Civil rights groups believe it is going too far.</s>JOHN WADHAM, LIBERTY: What will happen as a result of this legislation is there will be two kinds of criminal justice systems. If you are involved in criminal activities for political reasons or religious reasons, you will have less rights than if you're an ordinary criminal involved in burglary or theft or whatever else, and that is a fundamental mistake.</s>WEEKS: It is not just foreign organizations with links to Britain that will be affected. Computer hackers and militant animal rights groups, which plan acts of violence, could also feel the weight of the new laws. Romilly Weeks, ITN.
Britain Passes New Terrorism Law