The state department said its decision had been taken in view of the MEK's public renunciation of violence, the absence of any confirmed acts of terrorism by the organisation for more than a decade and its co-operation in the closure of their paramilitary base in Iraq.

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Four of the nation's top intelligence officials have testified before Congress that it is certain new acts of violence will be undertaken in the next three to six months.

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Mr McBride, who has acted for Celtic Football Club, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the problem was being fuelled by websites encouraging people to commit acts of violence.

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Ms. CONDOLEEZZA RICE (U.S. Secretary of State): No one can expect an immediate end to all acts of violence.

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"Eventually and inevetiably, it's going to have an impact on the tiny minority of people willing to carry out acts of violence, " he said.

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This coincided with the wave of violence, kidnappings and terrorist acts that swept Iraq prior to the 2007 U.S. surge, so some of it is hard to disentangle from the broader scene.

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