THE government has been conducting negotiations with north African countries to extradite terrorist suspects held without charge at Belmarsh prison.

Talks have been held between Baroness Symons, the Foreign Office minister, and the governments of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia to draw up a treaty to deport terrorist suspects to their home countries, where they are also wanted.

One of the men is an Algerian accused of attending a terrorist “camp” in Dorset. Another is said to be spiritual head of the group behind the Casablanca bombs in 2003.

The deal being negotiated by Symons, who visited the three countries last month, would give the government a way out of the row over the detention without charge of foreign terrorist suspects.

On Friday Tony Blair signalled he was prepared to offer concessions to opponents of home detention for terrorist suspects. They are expected to include giving judges a role in imposing the so-called “control orders”.

Foreign Office officials confirmed last weekend that the talks with the three countries had dealt with security co-operation and counterterrorism. Algerian diplomatic sources said Britain had agreed to draft an agreement for mutual extradition.

One possibility is that the deal will be signed by Abdelaziz Bouteflika, president of Algeria, during his visit to Britain for the G8 summit in July.

Eleven men are being held without charge at Belmarsh. Most come from Algeria, while others are from Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Jordan. Under present law they cannot be deported because of fears they could be tortured or executed.

The Foreign Office has been trying to obtain assurances the men would not be mistreated if they were returned to their countries of origin, all of which have poor human rights records.

A delegation from the parliamentary foreign affairs select committee visited North Africa earlier this month. “The Algerians said they had complained for years about Britain giving sanctuary to terrorists,” said one MP who was on the trip. “They told us they had not used the death penalty since 1994.”

Algerian sources suggest their government is seeking the return of up to 20 men wanted for offences at home.

Tunisia is seeking the return of one man in Belmarsh. Morocco is understood to be seeking Mohammed al-Garbuzi, 49, a cleric. He has been convicted in Morocco of being the leader of the Group of Islamic Combatants of Morocco, accused of the Casablanca bombing.

One of the Algerians, who was recently released to home detention, is said to have helped Muslims from Britain travel to Al-Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan. He attended a camp in Dorset in July-August 1999.

Last night, Gareth Peirce, solicitor for several of the detainees, said she was appalled by the possibility of an extradition deal with Algeria. “This does not mean Algeria has improved its standards, but that Britain is prepared to think the unthinkable.”

Additional reporting: Abul Taher

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• The real-life adventures of Tintin the spy
• Our universities face a radical upheaval
• Doctor Who