All Guantanamo prisoners must be released or charged says Euro-MP

11.42.17am GMT Wed 10th Mar 2004

The release of five British detainees from Guantanamo Bay, is welcome news, but all the prisoners being held there should be released or charged according to West Midlands Euro-MP Liz Lynne.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow's vote in the European Parliament demanding the release or fair trial of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay the Liberal Democrat MEP said:

"I welcome the news that five British detainees including three from Tipton in the West Midlands have been released from Guantanamo Bay. I am disappointed though that the other West Midlands man Moazzam Begg and the other three British nationals have not been released or charged after two years of detention.

"We are all agreed on the importance of fighting terrorism, but we cannot surrender our basic human rights and the values Europe shares with America in this fight. The United States must end the legal limbo of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, who have been held for too long without charge or access to a lawyer. The detainees should be charged or released, and those who are charged with crimes should face a fair trial according to international standards of justice.

"European Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called on European governments to work together to secure the release of all European detainees, rather than negotiate bilateral deals. With the EU-US summit in June fast approaching, governments should be speaking with one voice so that all European detainees are treated equally."

ENDS