Almost 2,000 people attended a Unity convention at Manchester's Brigewater Hall.

Attendees listened to speakers address issues such as unity within Muslim organisations, dealing with terrorism and ideological obstructions to Muslim unity.

Foundation chairman Shaykh Muhammad Umar said he believed the government should be trying to communicate with the radical groups rather than just dismissing them.

He said: "The solution is not to ban these organisations, it is to engage with them. What Tony Blair needs to do is more casework.

"We need to have dialogue with these groups, not alienate them.

"Often they have a big bunch of individuals, especially a lot of young people, who follow them, and if you start banning them and putting them in prison were not going to get anywhere."

Mr Umar said the idea of communication between people with opposing views had been the basis of the conference.

A large police presence was visible outside Bridgewater Hall and every visitor was searched as they entered the event.

The convention was being staged by the Ramadhan Foundation an organisation set up in December last year to address the educational needs of Muslims and non-Muslims in the UK.

Mohammed Shafiq, spokesman for the Ramadhan Foundation said: "Following the dreadful events in London on July 7 there is a moral duty on Muslims to come together and really discuss how we can rid this evil from our community.

"The Government also has a duty to consult and engage the Muslim youth and the organisations like ourselves who work in the heart of the community.

"We reaffirm our commitment to opposing terrorism and we have a religious duty to ensure we make our nation, the United Kingdom, a successful multi-cultural and multi-faith society."

He added: "Our aim is bringing people together, no matter what faith or no faith."