British minister condemns terror interview

London -- Britain's defense secretary has condemned a television program featuring made-up scenes of soldiers abusing Iraqi captives.

Des Browne called Channel 4's "The Mark of Cain" a publicity coup for insurgents, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

The program featured a self-proclaimed terrorist and Islamic extremist who urged fellow Muslims to arm themselves against non-Muslims in Britain.

The man, using the name "Abu Muhammed," disguised himself with a scarf as he spoke of British Muslims being at war with their government. He also called "very justified'' the July 7 bombings two years ago in London that killed 52 people on public transportation systems.

Channel 4 officials said the man, who is banned from entering Britain, was interviewed in an undisclosed European location. A statement released Monday by Channel 4 defended the interview as "part of a balanced examination of the roots of Islamic extremism" in the United Kingdom.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.