Outraged British Muslims have attacked a government minister for telling them that their community has to choose between the democratic rule of law or the way of the terrorists.

Europe Minister Denis MacShane's weekend speech to his constituents in Rotherham follows the Istanbul suicide bombings, which have so far killed 30, including British Consul General Roger Short, and wounded 450 others.

British Muslims describe the speech as a backward step pointing out there is no connection between the Istanbul bombers and anyone in the UK.

At least one Muslim leader has said that his community is in danger of being denigrated in the same way that the Irish were denigrated in the 1970s.

In his controversial speech that has caused so much upset, MacShane said, "It is time for the elected and community leaders of British Muslims to make a choice.

"It is the democratic rule of law -- if you like the British or Turkish or American way, based on political dialogue and non violent protests like the one we saw in London… or it is the way of the terrorists.

"I hope we will see clearer, stronger language that there is no future for any Muslim cause anywhere in the world that validates or implicitly supports the use of political violence in any way."

Responding to MacShane's comments, New Delhi-born Ghiyasuddin Siddiqui, head of the UK Muslim parliament, told rediff.com: "There's no connection between people who committed this crime in Istanbul and the UK.

"We're going back to the 1970s when every young Irish Catholic was labelled a terrorist.

"This is sheer madness. Before the (Iraq) war we were saying, 'If you bomb innocents you will help the Al Qaeda people. It's like opening the gates of Hell."

Siddiqui was supported by Inayat Bunglawala of the Muslim Council of Britain who said, "We do not need lectures from a representative of a government that has conducted an unlawful war against Iraq."

Another Muslim leader, Anas Altikriti of the Muslim Association of Britain, described MacShanes's comments as an 'outrage'. "What they do is divide and antagonise a community," he said.

Responsibility for the Istanbul bombings has been claimed by the Brigades of Abu Hafz al-Masri.

The outfit says it targeted British interests in Turkey to 'shatter the peace of Britain which battles Islam'.

Consul General Roger Short, it added, was specifically targeted because of his 'experience in combating Islam and because he is considered the mastermind of British policy in the region'.

"Our cars of death struck the Consulate building. As for the British bank headquarters, this is a bastion of the British economy and let Britain and its people know that its alliance with America will not bring it prosperity or security," the outfit said.