Gordon Brown tonight condemned as "abhorrent and offensive" plans by a controversial Islamist group to stage a march through Wootton Bassett.
In a statement, the prime minister said the Wiltshire town had assumed a "special significance" in the life of the nation, which should be respected.
The leader of Islam4UK has said he will try to persuade people in Wootton Bassett to back an anti-war parade along the main street – the same route used to bring home the bodies of troops from Afghanistan.
Anjem Choudary , whose group is an offshoot of the radical al-Muhajiroun movement, has caused anger by calling for members to parade through the Wiltshire town carrying up to 500 coffins symbolising the Muslim dead from the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
Even the normally-reserved and (daresay) staid Gordon Brown sounded off on the plans of the Islamist attention-whores.
"I am personally appalled by the prospect of a march in Wootton Bassett," Brown said in a statement.
"I believe that we as a nation should honour those brave servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
"Wootton Bassett has a special significance for us all at this time, as it has been the scene of the repatriation of many members of our armed forces who have tragically fallen.
"Any attempt to use this location to cause further distress and suffering to those who have lost loved ones would be abhorrent and offensive."
Anjem Choudary, the leader of Islam4UK, admitted that choosing Wootton Bassett was designed to gain publicity.
"We need to gain media attention in order to highlight the plight of the ordinary men, women and children who are being mercilously murdered in Afghanistan," he told Sky News television.
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