UK court rejects terror detentions
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Britain's highest court has ruled against the detention of foreign terrorism suspects without trial.
The ruling on Thursday by nine Law Lords was a major blow to the UK government, which argued that the detention of some suspects was a tough but essential measure to protect the country from potential attacks.
The Lords were considering an appeal by nine Muslim men who had been held in prison for up to three years under legislation introduced after the September 11 attacks on the United States.
Giving the ruling of the Law Lords in the Chamber of the House of Lords, Lord Bingham said the section of the anti-terrorism act under which the men were held was incompatible with the European Convention.
Bingham, head of the nine-judge panel, said the law "permits detention of suspected international terrorists in a way that discriminates on the ground of nationality or immigration status."
The ruling came the day after Home Secretary David Blunkett -- who introduced the anti-terrorism policies -- resigned amid a scandal over allegations that he abused his position for personal reasons. (Full story)
Blunkett, 57, stepped down after weeks of accusations that he helped speed up a residence visa for the nanny of a former lover, U.S.-born magazine publisher Kimberley Quinn.
The UK government, Washington's chief ally in its "war on terror," said it would send the controversial law under which the Muslim men are held back to parliament.
But it refused to release the nine -- one of whom is accused of inspiring the September 11 attacks -- for security reasons.
"It is ultimately for parliament to decide whether and how we should amend the law," new Home Secretary Charles Clarke said in a statement.
"Accordingly, I will not be ... releasing the detainees, whom I have reason to believe are a significant threat to our security."
The appeal by the nine men will now go forward to the European Court of Human Rights, but CNN Correspondent Diana Muriel said it was unclear when that will be heard.
Most of the men are being held at Belmarsh Prison in south London, which has been described as Britain's Guantanamo by civil liberties lawyers.
