Call to free UK residents from Guantanamo Bay

Britain has asked the US Government to return five suspects being held at Guantanamo Bay, including alleged Al Qaida fanatics.

The move by Foreign Secretary David Miliband was seen as further evidence the Government's 'special relationship' with US president George Bush is cooling.

Tony Blair had steadfastly refused to ask for the release of the five, who are not British citizens but all have resident status such as asylum.

They have been held at the Cuban military base for up to five years, on suspicion by the US they are terror suspects or enemy combatants.

One of the men, refugee Jamil El-Banna, was accused by the US of being a member of Al Qaida and an associate of British-based Abu Qatada, known as Osama bin Laden's 'ambassador in Europe'.

Another, Binyam Mohammed, is accused of undergoing firearms and explosives training alongside shoe bomber Richard Reid.

It is claimed he planned to travel to the US, rent several flats in an apartment block and then blow it up with a timing device.

Last night, MPs demanded they must be properly vetted before being returned to the UK to ensure public safety is not 'compromised'.

Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We have repeatedly expressed our reservations about the detention of individuals without due process or trial at Guantanamo Bay.

"However, we have a number of concerns, including what measures will be taken to maintain national security here should they be returned to the UK."

Tory MP Patrick Mercer, a security expert said: "These people have some very interesting intelligence indicators on them.

"Will they be free to roam as they wish when they return to this country, will they be considered for control orders and will they be considered for return to their countries of origin? These will be pretty testing questions for the Home Office."

The Foreign Office said the new approach was aimed at speeding up the closure of the Cuban base, and was in line with recent steps by the US to reduce the numbers of detainees.

During Mr Blair's Premiership, the Government had held it was not its duty to ask for the release of citizens of another country, despite their UK residency rights.

As a result, yesterday's intervention will be seen as another sign that Gordon Brown is taking a more independent stance from Washington.

If US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice agrees to the request, as ministers expect, it will mean there are no detainees left at the camp with any link to the UK.

The Government secured the release and return of all UK nationals held at Guantánamo by January 2005. The five - Mohamed, Shaker Aamer, Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes and Abdennour Sameur - had all been granted refugee status, indefinite leave or exceptional leave to remain before they were detained.

The Foreign Office said: "The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary have reviewed the Government's approach to this group of individuals in light of these ongoing developments, our long-held policy aim of securing the closure of Guantanamo Bay, and the need to maintain national security.

"They have decided to request the release and return of the five detainees who have links to the UK as former residents, having been granted refugee status, indefinite leave or exceptional leave to remain prior to their detention."

US ambassador Robert Tuttle said the US "has no desire to be the world's jailor", and wanted to close Guantanamo Bay by moving people to countries which would treat them humanely.

"We will take the request to release them and study it very seriously and get back with all due, deliberate speed," he added.

All five deny any wrongdoing, saying they were victims of mistaken identity or carrying out charity work when picked up in countries such as Afghanistan in the wake of September 11.

Family members and supporters say they have been ill-treated, and suffered torture at the hands of the US authorities because it is believed they are Al Qaida fanatics.