by STEVE DOUGHTY, Daily Mail

Last updated at 08:07 03 June 2006

The muslim leader closest to Tony Blair yesterday blamed last July's London bombings on the war in Iraq.

Sir Iqbal Sacranie said the attacks would not have happened if British troops had not invaded Iraq.

He linked the tragedy and the Iraq war a few days before stepping down as Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The council has established itself as the pre-eminent voice of 'moderate' Islam and the Government's favoured source of advice on Muslim thinking.

More radical Islamic figures have often claimed the July 7 attacks were prompted by anger over Iraq.

The most moderate Muslims, however, have feared that linking the attacks with Iraq, Afghanistan or the Palestinian conflict was a step towards justifying terrorism.

But yesterday Sir Iqbal told BBC Radio Four's Today Programme that 'we are

suffering the consequences' of engagement in Iraq.

He added: 'I think if we had not gone to Iraq, the situation perhaps would not have been where we are today.'

Asked if terror attacks such as the July 7 bombings would have been made if Britain had stayed out of Iraq, Sir Iqbal said: 'I personally don't think that would have happened, as much as one simply, utterly and totally condemns what act took place and cannot ever relate it to any justification by any person to carry out those acts, acts of criminality.'

Sir Iqbal added: 'But then again, one can only speculate at the moment.'

Four suicide bombers killed 52 passengers and injured hundreds more when they blew themselves up on three Tube trains and a bus in the London attacks.

Sir Iqbal steps down as head of the council on Sunday.

The group, which represents more than 250 member organisations, was formed in the mid-1990s to address the lack of any recognised national Islamic body.

Tony Blair and other ministers have always firmly rejected any suggestion that the July bombings were inspired or provoked by British operations in Iraq.