US: Seven Britons held without trial at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay were offered new hope of an early release yesterday after Washington appeared to soften its stance.
A US diplomat was reported in British newspapers as saying the suspects, held as "enemy combatants", could be repatriated if Britain is able to "manage" them after their return.
"We are prepared to arrange their transfer home for detention or prosecution or other actions depending on individual circumstances," US ambassador at large for war crimes Pierre-Richard Prosper told a small US embassy briefing, according to the Times.
He said there were no plans to return Moazzam Begg and Faroz Abassi, two more Britons whom the US authorities categorise as high risk.
Newspapers interpreted his comments as meaning the Britons could be home within weeks.
But the Foreign Office said no deal was imminent. "When we've got something to say, we'll say it. We need to be patient," a spokesman said.
Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair's spokesman would not be drawn, saying the Britons' fate was a matter for the prosecuting authorities.
One government source said talk of a deal was "premature" and that agreement could be weeks or months away.
A lawyer acting for Mr Abassi's mother said it appeared the United States was keen for a quick deal, but that the British government was blocking it.
"I am worried that the Home Secretary is standing in the way of them being brought back here," solicitor Ms Louise Christian said. "He doesn't want the responsibility."
The nine Britons are among 660 detainees being held without charge at the US naval base in Cuba.
It was set up in January 2002 to hold combatants captured in Afghanistan and also houses others suspected of having links with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, accused by Washington of carrying out the September 11th, 2001, attacks.
Their treatment has appalled human rights groups who believe the prisoners will be deprived of a fair trial.
Amnesty International urged Mr Blair to end the "legal black hole" at Camp Delta in a letter delivered to his Downing Street office yesterday.
"We have urged that he calls on the US government to ensure legal representation and fair trials are the bottom line not just for the nine Britons but for all 650-plus detainees," Amnesty UK director Ms Kate Allen said.
US President George Bush has adopted a more conciliatory tone on international affairs in recent months. Analysts say ongoing violence in Iraq has underlined Washington's need for international cooperation.
Rights activists said they saw a softening of the US stance and a desire in Washington to repatriate the Britons.
"Everybody's getting tired of these negotiations," said Mr Stephen Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, a London-based campaign group. "We are hitting some sort of endgame."
Mr Azmat Begg, father of detainee Moazzam Begg, said he was "shocked" that the fate of his son and hundreds of others was unclear after nearly two years.
- (Reuters)