Legal bid over Camp X-Ray Briton

Conditions at Camp X-Ray are Spartan

Lawyers are making a renewed effort to secure the legal rights of a British Taleban suspect being held by the US authorities at Camp X-Ray in Cuba.

They will go to the Court of Appeal aiming to force the British Government to ensure Feroz Abbasi has access to full legal advice.

Their action follows a third visit by MI5 officers to Mr Abbasi at the camp at Guantanamo Bay, at which he was denied access to lawyers.

Feroz Abbasi's case will go to the Appeal Court

In March, the 22-year-old from Croydon, south London, lost a High Court battle over the conditions of his detention.

His mother, nurse Zumrati Juma said: "I understand that Feroz told them that he did not want to speak to them without a lawyer being present and that he asked them to ask the US camp commander if he could have a lawyer.

"The Foreign Office told me that they had asked the commander and he had refused.

"I am disturbed that the request was only made to the camp commander once they had arrived in Guantanamo and that the British government has made no formal request to the US government to secure my son's rights before sending MI5 out there."

During the High Court hearing in March, the court was told Mr Abbasi was being imprisoned in a manner that "violated" his fundamental rights under international law.

However, the judge rejected calls for a judicial review.

We believe this case can be distinguished from other cases where the courts have refused to intervene in matters of foreign policy

Louise Christian, solicitor

The judge said: "The challenge seeks to involve this court in an area of international relations and foreign policy for which the judicial process is manifestly unsuited."

Mr Abbasi's solicitor Louise Christian said the British government had an obligation to ensure its citizens' rights are protected.

She said: "We believe this case can be distinguished from other cases where the courts have refused to intervene in matters of foreign policy."

Mr Abbasi is one of five Britons being held at the detention camp after being captured by US troops in December and accused of helping defend the last Taleban stronghold of Kanduz.

Mr Abbasi's lawyers will return to the High Court in London on Monday, 1 July.