Terror suspects lose appeal

Ten suspected international terrorists being held without trial have lost their appeal against their detention.

The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled the government was right to hold the men.

The panel of judges said there was "sound material" to back up the decision that the men - many of whom have been held since December 2001 - were a risk to national security.

Five of the men later said the ruling marked a "a new dark age of injustice".

The men were all held under emergency powers in the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act, which was introduced in the wake of the 11 September attacks.

They expect now to remain locked up for the remainder of their lives

Q&A: The issues behind the cases

After the judges' ruling, Home Secretary David Blunkett said he was "very pleased" his decisions had been upheld.

"The government's paramount responsibility is to ensure public safety and national security," he said.

The ruling sent "a clear signal that the UK is not a place where terrorists can operate unhindered", he added.

The 10 men included Jamal Ajouaou and Palestinian asylum seeker Mahmoud Abu Rideh, and eight named only after a letter of the alphabet.

SIAC chairman Mr Justice Ouseley described the case against Mr Ajouaou as "compelling".

The home secretary had reasonable grounds to suspect that a detainee known as C had a "senior leadership role" in Egyptian terror group EIJ in the UK, the judges added.

'Another detainee, known as D, was described as a "practised and accomplished liar" whose attempts to distance himself from other terror suspects could not be believed.

The judges said they were satisfied detainee E was a member of the Tunisian Fighting Group and had links "with an international terrorist group."

The panel said the evidence "entirely justified a reasonable suspicion" that F was involved with an Algerian terror group.

The judges were also satisfied G and H, Algerians aged 34 and 30, were also "international terrorists".

We protected the nation from people whose involvement and connection with terrorism put us at risk

Wednesday's ruling was delivered in two stages - five decisions were announced in the morning, and the other five in the early afternoon.

After the morning hearings, solicitor Gareth Peirce, who represents detainees A and B and Mr Ajouaou, read a statement on their behalf.

It said: "Security has been chosen over due process and is a dangerous precedent for the future, and not just for these detainees.

"Their arrest and continuing detention marks the entry of this country into a new dark age of injustice.

"They expect now to remain locked up for the remainder of their lives.

"Each knows that he's been involved in no action in support of terrorism."

Most of SIAC's hearings are closed to the public and the media.

Outside the central London court on Wednesday, a group of about 25 protesters demonstrated before the rulings were announced.

Campaigners have harshly criticised anti-terror laws

Estella Schmid, of the Campaign Against Criminalising Communities, said: "We are against internment without trial and we think there has to be an open trial, regardless of whether they have committed these crimes or not.

"We are not supporting terrorists but we do think every human being has to have a fair trial.

"This is a principle of a civil society."

In all, 16 people have been detained under the Act, which allows people to leave the UK voluntarily.

Two have left, including Mr Ajouaou, who began his appeal while still in the country.

The government is prevented by human rights legislation from deporting the men because they face persecution in their home countries.

Mr Abu Rideh is accused of links with senior extremists and associates of Osama bin Laden in the UK and overseas.

The 32-year-old father of five, who has lived in Britain since 1995, is now staying in Broadmoor high security mental hospital.

The detainees have 28 days to appeal. Two of the detainees have said they will do so.