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Terror detainees win Lords appeal
Detaining foreign terrorist suspects without trial breaks human rights laws, the UK's highest court has ruled. In a blow to the government's anti-terror measures, the House of Lords law lords ruled by an eight to one majority in favour of appeals by nine detainees. The law lords said the measures were incompatible with European human rights laws. The men will stay behind bars while ministers decide how to react. Solicitor Gareth Peirce called on the government to release them quickly. Most of the men are being indefinitely held in Belmarsh prison, south London. The ruling creates a major problem for Charles Clarke on his first day as home secretary following David Blunkett's resignation. The Liberal Democrats say Mr Clarke should use the fact he is new to the job to take issue with a law established by his predecessor, David Blunkett. Belmarsh prison has been dubbed Britain's Guantanamo Bay by civil rights campaigners opposed to the use of emergency anti-terror laws.
Posted by: Steve 2004-12-16 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=51379 |