Law chief's 'terror' justice plea

Lord Goldsmith has held talks in US on fate of UK terror suspects

The Attorney General has called on US decision-makers not to deny terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay a fair trial and allow al-Qaeda to claim a victory.

Lord Goldsmith QC told delegates at the International Bar Association's annual conference in San Francisco the wider goal of terrorists was to undermine societies.

"That aim is furthered if democratic governments place those suspected of terrorist crimes outside the law and compromise on their fundamental principles," he said.

The heads of 10 leading legal institutions around the world have urged the US to give fair trials to the more than 650 alleged al-Qaeda and Taleban suspects being held at the US military base in Cuba.

None have yet been charged with a crime.

'Bitter pill'

They face a US military tribunal behind closed doors with restricted legal representation. Civil courts will not be able to review their cases or hear appeals.

Lord Goldsmith said it was "a bitter pill" to swallow for those who have seen and experienced the devastation that results from terrorist outrages to see systems established to protect the legal rights of those they hold responsible.

"But the rule of law is the heart of our democratic system," he said.

Lord Goldsmith QC travelled to the US in July for high-level discussions on the fate of nine British terror suspects being held there.

BRITISH DETAINEES Shafiq Rasul, 24, of Tipton, West Midlands Asif Iqbal, 20, of Tipton Ruhal Ahmed, 20, of Tipton Martin Mubanga, 29, from north London Jamal Udeen, 35, from Manchester Richard Belmar, 23, from London Tarek Dergoul, 24, from east London Moazzam Begg, 35, from Birmingham Feroz Abbasi, 23, from south London

US President George W Bush announced around the same time that two of the nine, Feroz Abbasi, 23, and Moazzam Begg, 35, would be among the first to face the tribunals.

Lord Goldsmith said negotiations were continuing to ensure that, if prosecuted, the British detainees would be assured of fair trials "wherever they take place", according to a report in The Telegraph newspaper.

The Guantanamo Bay detainees are described by the US as 'Enemy Combatants' outside the normal legal framework.

The US says it cannot treat the suspects as normal criminals because of their alleged involvement in the unprecedented 11 September attacks.

Lord Goldsmith said suspected terrorists were not outside the law in Britain.