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Delay in publication of report on 7/7 attacks

LONDON, May 2 (KUNA) -- Publication of a controversial report into security failings before the July 2005 bombings in London has been delayed, causing mounting concerns among survivors and relatives of the dead, it was reported Saturday.
The 7/7 families had been told to expect the report, into security lapses which left Mohammed Sidique Khan free to carry out the attacks, "within days" of the end of the trial of three men accused of helping him, the Times newspaper said.
That trial finished this week but no date has been set for publishing the report, which was completed by the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) in July last year and sent to the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
The Times has learnt that the document, which is understood to be highly critical of the failure of the domestic Intelligence service, MI5, and West Yorkshire police to monitor Khan, has been sent to Government lawyers.
They could choose to censor parts of it or prevent publication altogether.
"We were told the report would come out within days of the trial verdicts but now we're being told there isnt a firm date for publication," said Clifford Tibber, solicitor for some of the 7/7 families and survivors.
"The criminal proceedings are finished and there is no reason why the ISC's report should not be published immediately." Several explanations were offered today for delaying the report.
The Cabinet Office said that the ISC was looking to publish in mid-May.
However, it is the prime minister's decision when to issue the report and Westminster sources say Downing Street wants to "let the dust settle." A Number 10 Downing Street spokesman said, "We have no information about this." Kim Howells, the chairman of the ISC, said the committee was taking legal advice before publication.
"We are seeking legal advice to make sure we're not going to encroach on any other legal action that may take place ... we don't want to put any other trial or anything else in jeopardy," he said.
Howells confirmed that parts of the document had been rewritten since it was said to have been completed. He said the amendments and additions were made "because of subsequent information that came our way." The bombs, on three Tube trains and a bus on July 7, 2005, were Britain's first suicide attacks and resulted in 52 innocent people being killed and more than 700 injured.
It emerged after the bombings that Khan and his key accomplice, Shehzad Tanweer, had been filmed by surveillance officers meeting members of another terrorist cell and were overheard talking about fighting jihad.
The Metropolitan Police today released previously unseen CCTV footage of the bombers on the morning of the attacks (above).
Survivors and relatives of those killed have demanded to know why the intelligence agencies and police did not monitor Khan and Tanweer and prevent the attacks.
Their request for an independent inquiry into 7/7 has been denied by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and they are seeking a judicial review in the High Court of that decision.
That action has been stayed pending the release of the ISC report but is likely to resume if the families are unhappy with it.
A previous report by the committee, which largely exonerated the security agencies, was heavily criticised and led to a wholesale revision.
Patrick Mercer, opposition Conservative chairman of the Commons terrorism sub-committee, said the report should be published soon and in its complete form.
The 7/7 families are also increasingly anxious that, almost four years after the suicide attacks, arrangements have not been made for inquests into the 52 deaths.
At the trial which ended this week, three friends of Khan, from Beeston, Leeds, northern England, were acquitted of involvement in 7/7, although two were jailed for attending terrorist training camps. (end) he.ema KUNA 021226 May 09NNNN