Tony Blair has been challenged to "put his foot down" and tell the Americans that the British men currently imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay should be tried in the UK.
Amid fears that Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi will not get a fair trial, 163 MPs have now signed a parliamentary petition calling for the men to be repatriated.
Pressed several times on the issue at prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Mr Blair said the nature of the trials planned for the prisoners held at the base in Cuba had yet to be decided.
He promised to continue making "active representations" to the US Government to ensure the men had a fair trial.
On Monday Foreign Office Minister Chris Mullin said the UK had "strong reservations" about US plans to use military tribunals to try the two men.
Under the proposed trial arrangements it is understood that Mr Begg and Mr Abbasi will be denied the right to choose their own legal representation.
The motion says the prisoners face a choice between pleading guilty and being given 20 years, or if they fail to do that and are convicted they face the death penalty.
The MPs also raise concern about the mental state of the two men after 18 months of incarceration in cages two metres wide and only 30 minutes of exercise twice a week.
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If you kept a dog in a 6x6 cage for 2 years and only gave it 30mins of exercise twice a week while it was hobbled, you would be prosecuted for cruelty.
The US does itself no favours in the eyes of the civilised world with this BS.
Amid fears that Moazzam Begg and Feroz Abbasi will not get a fair trial, 163 MPs have now signed a parliamentary petition calling for the men to be repatriated.
Pressed several times on the issue at prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Mr Blair said the nature of the trials planned for the prisoners held at the base in Cuba had yet to be decided.
He promised to continue making "active representations" to the US Government to ensure the men had a fair trial.
On Monday Foreign Office Minister Chris Mullin said the UK had "strong reservations" about US plans to use military tribunals to try the two men.
Under the proposed trial arrangements it is understood that Mr Begg and Mr Abbasi will be denied the right to choose their own legal representation.
The motion says the prisoners face a choice between pleading guilty and being given 20 years, or if they fail to do that and are convicted they face the death penalty.
The MPs also raise concern about the mental state of the two men after 18 months of incarceration in cages two metres wide and only 30 minutes of exercise twice a week.
=============================================
If you kept a dog in a 6x6 cage for 2 years and only gave it 30mins of exercise twice a week while it was hobbled, you would be prosecuted for cruelty.
The US does itself no favours in the eyes of the civilised world with this BS.
