Controversy over UK archbishop8217;s sharia comment

8220;You cannot run two systems of law alongside each other. That would be a recipe for chaos,8221; said Culture Secretary Andy Burnham.

The Sun, Britain8217;s leading tabloid, said on Friday: 8220;It8217;s easy to dismiss Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams as a silly old goat. In fact he8217;s a dangerous threat to our nation.8221;

The issue of integrating Britain8217;s 1.8 million Muslims has been widely debated since July 2005, when four British Islamists carried out suicide bombings on London8217;s transport system, killing 52 people.

Those attacks prompted questioning of a long-standing policy of avoiding a single British identity and promoting a multicultural society, which some argue has led to segregation of ethnic minorities.

Speaking to the BBC, Williams said other religions enjoyed tolerance of their laws in Britain and called for a 8220;constructive accommodation8221; with Muslim practice in areas such as marital disputes.

Asked if the adoption of sharia was necessary for community cohesion, he said: 8220;It seems unavoidable.8221;