The British government has put the fight against terrorism and crime at the heart of its plans for the next parliamentary session.

Queen Elizabeth outlined the programme of Prime Minister Tony Blair at the traditional opening of both houses. The speech set out legislation to introduce identification cards and to create a British version of the FBI, as well as moves to combat drugs and anti-social behaviour. But plans to try suspected terrorists without a jury and use evidence from phone taps in court are controversial. The opposition Liberal Democrats haveaccused Blair of scaremongering to gain votes in the general election expected next year.

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