British Prime Minister Tony Blair apologized Monday after anti-terror police shot dead an innocent Brazilian in south London in their pursuit of suicide bombers.

"We are desperately sorry for the death of an innocent person and I understand entirely the feelings of the young man's family,"he said.

But he appealed for understanding of and support for the police,who are doing their job in "very, very difficult circumstances" and it was important they had public support.

Blair said if it had turned out to be a terrorist and the policehad not taken action, they would have been criticized for that.

"It is important that we allow the police and support them in doing the job they have to do in order to protect people in this country."

The Prime Minister also called for the public to come forward with information about the suspected bombers saying "It is part ofour duty in order to protect our country that people come forward and give the police the information they can."

"I am sure that the vast majority of people will want to cooperate with the police in that way," he added.

It was revealed Monday that the 27-year-old Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes had been shot in the head eight times by plain-clothes policemen last Friday in Stockwell Tube Station.

The family of Menezes is considering suing the police for killing the innocent man who has been working legally in London for three years after moving from Brazil.

The shooting incident has raised much concern about the "shoot to kill" policy of the police.

Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers,defended the policy as a last resort, saying "We have a series of tactics which range from disruption, to the very, very final moment when you have to shoot and the aim is to prevent the criminal or suspect causing harm to other people."

He told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that a new range of tactics had been set up in response to the threat posed by suicide bombers.

Shooting at the body would not always incapacitate a bomber enough to stop him detonating explosives, and could even set off adevice, he said.

Police would always issue a warning before shooting, he added.

Lee Jasper, policy director for equalities and policing for the mayor of London,reassured the public that the policy was aimed only at dealing with suicide bombers.

"People going about their daily business should have nothing to fear," said Jasper.

Source: Xinhua