Muslim 'preachers of hate' hunted

LONDON -- Thousands of Britain's local government employees will return to work in 2009 to find they have been recruited to help MI5 identify Muslim "preachers of hate."

Refuse collectors, parking wardens and postmen will be among those who will be told to watch out for anyone they think "skirts the fringes of the law" under the Counter-Terrorism Local Profiles Campaign, which Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced.

"It will enable us to more quickly identify extremists and preachers of hate in our midst," MI5 director Jonathan Evans has told his officers.....