BRITAIN: Britain's government reacted angrily yesterday after a tribunal granted bail to four North African terrorism suspects facing deportation under a policy introduced after the London bombings in July.
The special immigration tribunal denied bail to another five men, including Jordanian cleric Abu Qatada, who British authorities say was a leading inspiration for al-Qaeda in Europe. Another suspect's bail case was adjourned.
"We are disappointed that the Special Immigration Appeals Commission has granted bail to some of those individuals currently detained pending deportation," Home Office junior minister Hazel Blears said in a statement. "We will press SIAC to impose strict bail conditions, although it remains our view that these individuals represent a real risk to the national security of this country."
Rights groups say the plans to deport them could lead to their being tortured at home.
None of the 10 men, all North Africans apart from Abu Qatada, has been charged with any crime. The four who were bailed were among several whose lawyers say had mental breakdowns as a result of being jailed indefinitely without charge. The 10 were re-arrested in August under the new deportation policy, after being held for years without charge under a post-September 11th emergency law and freed this year when the House of Lords ruled that law violated their human rights.