Tony Blair is facing the most serious crisis in his relations with George Bush after ministers criticised the president for ruling that two Britons are to stand trial before a military court which can order executions.
Amid rising anger across the political spectrum, the Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin yesterday all but accused the US of breaching the Geneva convention as he expressed "strong reservations" about the secretive trial.
To ram home his message, Mr Mullin took the rare step of announcing that he would pass on copies of furious exchanges in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon to the US ambassador, William Farish.
Mr Mullin spoke out after Washington announced last week that President Bush had "designated" Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi to face trial before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Mr Abbasi, 23, from Croydon, south London, and Mr Begg, 35, from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, have been held for 18 months without charge or access to a lawyer.
The two men face a trial where US military officers will serve as judge, jury and prosecution. The men can nominate their defence lawyer, but the lawyers have to get special US clearance.
In an emergency Commons statement, Mr Mullin let rip at the US. "We have strong reservations about the military commission," he told MPs.
He added: "We have raised and will continue to raise these reservations energetically with the US."
Mr Mullin indicated that the US was in breach of the Geneva convention.
Asked whether Britain accepted that the convention does not apply to prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Mr Mullin said: "It is something we have discussed with the US, and frankly we disagree with them about it."
Mr Mullin, who made his name campaigning for the victims of injustice in Britain, warned that Britain would not tolerate the imposition of the death penalty.
"The US is aware of our fundamental opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
"If there is any question that the death penalty might be sought in these cases we would raise the strongest possible objections."
The outspoken government assault on the US came as the mother of one of the detainees met the Foreign Office minister, Lady Symons.
Zumrati Juma, mother of Feroz Abbasi, left the Foreign Office in tears after the meeting.
Mrs Juma and her lawyer Louise Christian tabled a series of demands including a call for Britain to increase the vehemence of its protests about the detention of its citizens, and about the fairness of any trial they may face.
Ms Christian said: "Private representations and diplomacy have not worked. Governments that have made formal protests, like Pakistan, have got a better deal. We are fearful that Feroz will be bullied into a plea bargain."
Within hours of the meeting, Mr Mullin launched his attack on the US. But he warned that "megaphone diplomacy" would be counter-productive.
His remarks came as MPs from all sides of the house lined up to condemn the Americans.
Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Croydon Central, protested at the "stark choice" faced by his constituent Feroz Abbasi - either to plead guilty and serve 20 years or plead not guilty and face an "unfair" trial.
"Will you make every effort to ensure the repatriation of my constituent and a fair trial in Britain, so that this kangaroo court does not proceed in Guantanamo Bay that could well end up with the killing of my constituent?" Mr Davies asked.
Mr Mullin replied: "You can rest assured, we are going to take a close interest in the wel fare of your constituent."
Douglas Hogg, the former Tory cabinet minister who secured the emergency Commons statement, condemned the US plan as "wrong, potentially unjust and gravely damaging to the Americans' reputation".
Nicholas Soames, the former Tory former defence minister, said: "All America's friends, while understanding the very difficult and sensitive issues that surround these matters, nevertheless regret deeply the harm that is being done to America's cause by their behaviour in this matter."
Mr Mullin said: "I certainly will pass that on.
"In fact, I shall pass on to the American ambassador the record of our exchanges this afternoon so the Americans can see for themselves how strongly members of this house feel."
Amid rising anger across the political spectrum, the Foreign Office minister Chris Mullin yesterday all but accused the US of breaching the Geneva convention as he expressed "strong reservations" about the secretive trial.
To ram home his message, Mr Mullin took the rare step of announcing that he would pass on copies of furious exchanges in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon to the US ambassador, William Farish.
Mr Mullin spoke out after Washington announced last week that President Bush had "designated" Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi to face trial before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Mr Abbasi, 23, from Croydon, south London, and Mr Begg, 35, from Sparkbrook, Birmingham, have been held for 18 months without charge or access to a lawyer.
The two men face a trial where US military officers will serve as judge, jury and prosecution. The men can nominate their defence lawyer, but the lawyers have to get special US clearance.
In an emergency Commons statement, Mr Mullin let rip at the US. "We have strong reservations about the military commission," he told MPs.
He added: "We have raised and will continue to raise these reservations energetically with the US."
Mr Mullin indicated that the US was in breach of the Geneva convention.
Asked whether Britain accepted that the convention does not apply to prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay, Mr Mullin said: "It is something we have discussed with the US, and frankly we disagree with them about it."
Mr Mullin, who made his name campaigning for the victims of injustice in Britain, warned that Britain would not tolerate the imposition of the death penalty.
"The US is aware of our fundamental opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances.
"If there is any question that the death penalty might be sought in these cases we would raise the strongest possible objections."
The outspoken government assault on the US came as the mother of one of the detainees met the Foreign Office minister, Lady Symons.
Zumrati Juma, mother of Feroz Abbasi, left the Foreign Office in tears after the meeting.
Mrs Juma and her lawyer Louise Christian tabled a series of demands including a call for Britain to increase the vehemence of its protests about the detention of its citizens, and about the fairness of any trial they may face.
Ms Christian said: "Private representations and diplomacy have not worked. Governments that have made formal protests, like Pakistan, have got a better deal. We are fearful that Feroz will be bullied into a plea bargain."
Within hours of the meeting, Mr Mullin launched his attack on the US. But he warned that "megaphone diplomacy" would be counter-productive.
His remarks came as MPs from all sides of the house lined up to condemn the Americans.
Geraint Davies, Labour MP for Croydon Central, protested at the "stark choice" faced by his constituent Feroz Abbasi - either to plead guilty and serve 20 years or plead not guilty and face an "unfair" trial.
"Will you make every effort to ensure the repatriation of my constituent and a fair trial in Britain, so that this kangaroo court does not proceed in Guantanamo Bay that could well end up with the killing of my constituent?" Mr Davies asked.
Mr Mullin replied: "You can rest assured, we are going to take a close interest in the wel fare of your constituent."
Douglas Hogg, the former Tory cabinet minister who secured the emergency Commons statement, condemned the US plan as "wrong, potentially unjust and gravely damaging to the Americans' reputation".
Nicholas Soames, the former Tory former defence minister, said: "All America's friends, while understanding the very difficult and sensitive issues that surround these matters, nevertheless regret deeply the harm that is being done to America's cause by their behaviour in this matter."
Mr Mullin said: "I certainly will pass that on.
"In fact, I shall pass on to the American ambassador the record of our exchanges this afternoon so the Americans can see for themselves how strongly members of this house feel."
