A leading Holocaust campaigner has called on Home Secretary Jack Straw to re-open the case of a man labelled a war criminal by a Scottish judge.

The news follows the departure to Australia of alleged Nazi war criminal Konrad Kalejs as deportation proceedings against him began.

Mr Straw is being urged to consider taking similar action against Edinburgh-based Anton Gecas if there was found to be enough evidence against him. Mr Gecas is originally from Lithuania.

Lord Greville Janner, chairman of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "I was outraged that after the clear denunciation of this man in a Scottish court no steps were taken against him.

'Appropriate steps'

"I would be delighted if the home secretary reopens this case and if there is sufficient evidence, took appropriate steps to deport him."

The Scottish National Party's justice spokeswoman Rosanna Cunningham said she intended to raise the case in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Gecas, 84, lost a 1992 defamation case he had brought against the makers of a documentary that alleged he had taken part in the killing of civilians, including Jews, in Lithuania during the Nazi occupation.

Judge Lord Milligan, at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, said in a written statement that he was "clearly satisfied" that Mr Gecas took part in a number of killings and "committed war crimes against innocent civilians".

A Home Office spokeswoman said that under the British Nationality Act 1981 the government had the power to set up a tribunal to look into cases in which it had reason to believe a person had gained British citizenship through "false means".

Allegations denied

However, she added she was unaware of any steps being taken to investigate Mr Gecas's British citizenship status.

In the 1992 case against Scottish Television, Lord Milligan said it had been proved that Mr Gecas was a platoon commander of the 12th Auxiliary Police Services Battalion.

The battalion is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of 30,000 civilians in Lithuania and Belorussia during the Nazi occupation of the Baltic states.

Mr Gecas denied taking part in war crimes, saying he was not in the vicinity when his battalion was murdering civilians.