BRITAIN: The British attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, last night called for the immediate closure of Guantánamo Bay camp in the most full-blown attack on the US detention centre by a member of the British government.
Going far further than other government members, notably Tony Blair, he described the existence of the facility as "unacceptable". He added: "It is time, in my view, that it should close. Not only would it, in my personal opinion, be right to close Guantánamo as a matter of principle, I believe it would also help to remove what has become a symbol to many - right or wrong - of injustice. The historic tradition of the United States as a beacon of freedom, liberty and of justice deserves the removal of this symbol," he said.
Speaking at a conference on international terrorism at which he defended Britain's succession of anti-terror laws, Lord Goldsmith said it was "essential in some cases to be flexible" and accept some limitation of rights. But he said: "There are certain principles on which there can be no compromise. Fair trial is one of those." - (Guardian service)