Devildogg4ever
08-11-03, 04:09 AM
TALKS ON TERROR SUSPECTS
The Pentagon's top lawyer is heading to the UK for talks about the nine Britons held at Guantanamo Bay.
Two of the men, Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam Begg, could be among the first of the suspects to face terrorism trials at US military tribunals.
William Haynes and his team are expected to arrive in London on Tuesday for debates with Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General.
A foreign office spokesman said: "We will be discussing our reservations about the military commissions and the options of the detainees being returned to the UK."
He dismissed reports that British officials had privately said they did not want detainees returned home because of concerns that it would be difficult to mount a succcessful prosecution under English law.
Officials are hoping to come to a conclusion during the meeting but have not ruled out further talks.
Lord Goldsmith has already been to the US twice and has already secured an agreement that two Britons on the list of suspects will not face the death penalty.
The Britons are among 660 al Qaeda suspects due to go on trial.
Last month the mother of 23-year-old Feroz Abbasi begged the Government to bring him home for a fair hearing.
Zumrati Juma, a nurse from Croydon, south London, said: "It gets harder as time goes on, not easier."
Ms Juma's solicitor Louise Christian said: "I would say to the representatives taking part in this week's discussions that justice requires a fair trial and British citizens should be removed from the legal black hole at Guantanamo Bay.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-12714558,00.html
The Pentagon's top lawyer is heading to the UK for talks about the nine Britons held at Guantanamo Bay.
Two of the men, Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam Begg, could be among the first of the suspects to face terrorism trials at US military tribunals.
William Haynes and his team are expected to arrive in London on Tuesday for debates with Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General.
A foreign office spokesman said: "We will be discussing our reservations about the military commissions and the options of the detainees being returned to the UK."
He dismissed reports that British officials had privately said they did not want detainees returned home because of concerns that it would be difficult to mount a succcessful prosecution under English law.
Officials are hoping to come to a conclusion during the meeting but have not ruled out further talks.
Lord Goldsmith has already been to the US twice and has already secured an agreement that two Britons on the list of suspects will not face the death penalty.
The Britons are among 660 al Qaeda suspects due to go on trial.
Last month the mother of 23-year-old Feroz Abbasi begged the Government to bring him home for a fair hearing.
Zumrati Juma, a nurse from Croydon, south London, said: "It gets harder as time goes on, not easier."
Ms Juma's solicitor Louise Christian said: "I would say to the representatives taking part in this week's discussions that justice requires a fair trial and British citizens should be removed from the legal black hole at Guantanamo Bay.
http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-12714558,00.html