Up to 90 insurgents are being held without trial by British forces in Afghanistan, Philip Hammond has admitted.
An Afghan policeman stands guard as commandos ride past a checkpoint in Kabul Photo: SHAH MARAI/AFP/GettyImages
The Defence Secretary revealed that dozens of Afghan insurgents are being
detained at a British base, after lawyers representing eight of the men
claimed they are being unlawfully held.
Speaking to the BBC, the lawyers likened the facility to America's Guantanamo
Bay prison in Cuba. They claimed their clients have been kept their without
trial or access to lawyers for up to 14 months.
They are appealing to the High Court for the release of the prisoners.
However, Mr Hammond said it was "patently ridiculous" to link the
detainment of the men to Guantanamo, as Britain is only holding insurgents
because it fears the Afghans would not treat them properly.
Britain is holding "far more than we would like" and there is "nothing
that we would like more" than to release them to the Afghans, Mr
Hammond said.
He would not comment on the length of detention but said the men are likely to
be released to Afghan facilities within "days". British forces in
Afghanistan, operating as part of the International Security Assistance
Force (Isaf), are allowed to detain suspects for 96 hours but can hold them
for longer in "exceptional circumstances", the Ministry of Defence
said.
Speaking on the Today programme, Mr Hammond also said those held are suspected of trying to kill British troops and pointed out their lawyers are being funded by UK legal aid.
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