JOHN MAJOR today condemned the Manchester bombing as a "callous and barbaric crime" in a message to the people of the city..

And the Prime Minister pledged no surrender to the terrorists.

Mr Major said: "There can be few more cowardly acts than bombing a shopping centre filled with innocent men, women and children going peacefully about their daily lives.

"You should have been enjoying an English summer's day. You should have been enjoying the Queen's Official Birthday and looking forward to the prospect of England playing Scotland and all the other excellent football, in Manchester and other cities that the weekend held in store. But the terrorist bomb shattered all that.

"I condemn utterly this callous and barbaric crime which has shocked all decent people far beyond the shores of Britain. We shall not rest until those responsible have been brought to justice.

"Meanwhile my hearts goes out to all those of you caught in the blast. You and your families have my deepest sympathies.

"A substantial task now lies ahead. The injured will need time to cope with the shock. The city will need time to come to terms with its grief and outrage. Businesses will have to be rebuilt land, buildings restored."

"But I know the city of Manchester and its people will show the same indomitable spirit as at similarly difficult times in the past.

"They will have my firm support as they do so. The terrorists must see that their guns and their bombs will not deflect a democratic society either from the belief it holds so dear or from the determined pursuit of a lasting pece in Northern Ireland."

Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw today backed the government over its warning that simply announcing an IRA ceasefire would not be enough to allow Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein to join all-party peace talks.

But he ruled out reintroducing internment without trial for terrorist suspects - which Home Secretary Michael Howard has revealed is under consideration - as "counter productive".

The Blackburn MP condemned Saturday's Manchester bomb and said it was "sheer good fortune" that dozens had not been killed.

Mr Straw said: "Both the IRA and Sinn Fein must stand utterly condemned for this atrocity - the Provisional IRA for doing it and Sinn Fein for its complicity.

"Sinn Fein's silence speaks volumes for their real commitment to the bomb rather than the ballot box.

"Sinn Fein cannot now be admitted to peace talks on the basis of the IRA simply declaring a cease fire. That would be seen as a con trick.

"We would need some real evidence of a compete and lasting cessation of violence.

"Labour opposes internment as counter productive. It would only act as a recruiting sergeant for the IRA."

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