LONDON: British Muslim leaders urged their communities yesterday to help fight extremism after three failed car bombings, amid signs that the new government may be better able to win over their 'hearts and minds.'

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has argued that co-operation from Britain's estimated 1.6 million Muslims is key to defeating the threat from Islamist fighters at home and abroad.

Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, head of the Muslim Parliament of Britain, urged Muslims to support the government and security services, saying "all the evidence suggests" the three failed attacks were carried out by Islamists.

He assured the 'government of his support against the forces of anarchy and extremism and called upon the Muslim community to help uproot extremism' in its midst.

The British Muslim Initiative, a lobby group which promotes Muslim participation in public life, echoed the remarks.