LONDON, Aug. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- British Foreign Office's top official warned the Downing Street more than a year before the July 7 bombings that the Iraq war was fueling Muslim extremism in Britain, British newspaper The Observer said on Sunday.

    The paper published a leaked letter from Foreign Office's Permanent Secretary Michael Jay to Cabinet Secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull, who provides administrative support to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, dated May 18, 2004.

    Despite repeated denials by Number 10 that the war made Britain a target for terrorists, the letter made the connection clear.

    The letter said British foreign policy was a "recurring theme" in the Muslim community, "especially in the context of the Middle East peace process and Iraq".

    "Britain's foreign policy and the perception of its negative effect on Muslims globally plays a significant role in creating a feeling of anger and impotence among especially the younger generation of British Muslims." the letter said.

    "This seems to be a key driver behind recruitment by extremist organizations." added the letter.

    In the wake of the July 7 terror bombings, which killed 56 people, Blair repeatedly denied that Britain's military presence in Iraq made Britain vulnerable to terrorists.

    Britain, a staunch US ally on Iraq, is positioning about 9,000 troops in Iraq, and more than 90 British soldiers have been killedin Iraq. Enditem