Vigilance against 'merciless' terrorist enemy

Thursday, 1 January 2004 12:08 AM

The Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has spoken out against the "skilful and merciless" terrorist enemy threatening global peace.

In his New Year message, Dr Williams said terrorism compounded fear, mutual mistrust, cynicism and suspicion among humans.

On BBC2 last night, he said: "We don't know where the enemy is - and it is an enemy who is skilful and merciless and willing to risk everything. We may grumble at the constraints and checks - but part of us knows just why we move in this atmosphere of suspicion.

"Once you see the dreadful results of terrorism at close quarters, you can begin to appreciate why everyone comes to be viewed with a degree of mistrust."

Dr Williams' New Year message will be repeated today at 1300GMT on BBC1.

Meanwhile, Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica gave thanks for the blessings from this past year and prayed for peace in 2004 "in Rome, in Italy, in Europe and the entire world."

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