Jack Straw has waded into the row over Cherie Blair's comments on suicide bombers, speaking of his own compassion for young people who carry out the attacks.

The foreign secretary was careful, however to condemn the attack in Jerusalem as despicable and on Wednesday branded a second attack on the city as "appalling".

They must be so depressed and misguided to do this

Jack Straw Foreign Secretary

Mrs Blair caused controversy when she said publicly at a charity event that young Palestinians felt they had "no hope" but to blow themselves up.

The timing of her remarks on Tuesday - hours after 19 Israelis died and over 40 were injured in a suicide bomb attack on a bus in Jerusalem - was the main target of critics.

Conservative foreign affairs spokesman Michael Ancram said on Tuesday that Mrs Blair had caused "massive offence to the families of schoolchildren and others whose lives were brutally and criminally ended this morning".

But after the prime minister's wife said sorry he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Mrs Blair has apologised for what she said and as far as I am concerned that is an end to that matter."

Mr Straw told the same programme it was possible to feel compassion for the suicide bombers but he added that in no way meant he condoned suicide attacks.

'Misguided'

In a separate interview he told the Times newspaper: "When young people go to their deaths, we can all feel a degree of compassion for those youngsters.

The prime minister leapt to his wife's defence

"They must be so depressed and misguided to do this.

"But behind those people are some very evil and unpleasant terrorist leaders who do not put their own lives on the line when they are making sure that others' lives are ended."

Mr Straw later told Today that it was necessary to distinguish between the suicide bombers and their leaders.

"Suicide bombing is not remotely a spontaneous act by individuals. It is an action organised by some very evil terrorist leaders who have hatred for the state of Israel."

Mr Ancram said there was "no way" the taking of innocent life through terrorist action could be justified.

"But at the same time we understand that part of the problem in the Middle East is that among both the Israelis and the Palestinian people there is fear and pain on both sides.

"That is not going to be resolved by armed action - in the end it has be resolved by political dialogue and by reaching a political settlement.

"That is what we should be concentrating on."

Apology

On Tuesday night, Mrs Blair apologised for any offence caused by her remarks.

Her husband had leapt her defence after the comments triggered criticism from Israeli diplomats and prominent members of the Jewish community in Britain and the Conservative Party.

Mrs Blair said she was "obviously sorry" if any offence had been taken from the way her words had been interpreted.

Attacks condemned

The Israeli Embassy in London said it regretted any public statements that might be interpreted as expressing understanding for Palestinian terrorism on the day of such an attack.

Wednesday saw a second suicide bombing attack in Jerusalem, prompting from Mr Straw to issue another condemnation.

"This second appalling attack in less than two days must bring the condemnation of the whole world," said Mr Straw.

"The perpetuators only bring ignominy on their cause. My thoughts and sympathies are with the families and friends of those killed and injured.

"The Palestinian Authority must do all in its power to prevent such attacks."