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British Government Backs Detention Plan
 The government of Prime Minister Tony Blair refused Monday to back down on plans to detain terror suspects for up to 90 days without charge. After talks with lawmakers, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said Monday night that the government stands by the 90-day limit in the proposed Terrorism Bill, despite the bill's near defeat at an early reading in Parliament last week. But Clarke said the government will amend the bill to include a clause allowing for review in a year to see if it is appropriate.Britain's main opposition parties and many of Blair's own lawmakers oppose the plan and almost defeated the Terrorism Bill in Parliament last week. It passed by one vote. Dissent over the legislation is posing a huge challenge to Blair's authority and some question whether he is losing his grip on power. "People want to make this a question of my authority," Blair said Monday. "This is a far more fundamental question than that. It is a question about the nation's security." He insisted the 90-day plan was in the country's best interests and appealed to opponents not to scuttle the measure in a key vote Wednesday. Posted by: Fred 2005-11-08 |
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