THE GOVERNMENT PLANS to ban four Islamic groups from operating in the country, the first such order under an anti-terrorism law passed earlier this year.

Home Secretary John Reid said he will ask Parliament to ban Al- Ghurabaa, The Saved Sect, the Baluchistan Liberation Army and Teyrebaz Azadiye Kurdistan under the Terrorism Act 2006 passed on March 22.

The law, drafted after the July 7 bombings includes a provision that prohibits the “glorification’’ of terrorism.

The opposition Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties had objected that the clause was too vague to stand up in court.

“Proscribing these groups, which are either engaged in terrorism or which glorify terrorist acts, sends a strong signal,” Reid said in a recent statement. “The United Kingdom is not prepared to tolerate those who support terrorism here or anywhere in the world.”