Confessions can't be used

the four men were taken to Paddington Green station

Confessions made by detainees at Guantanamo Bay cannot be used as evidence in a British court, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner said today.

The ruling by Sir John Stevens clears the way for the release of four men, freed by the US, who were undergoing a second round of police questioning in London today.

The decision underlines concerns over alleged torture and harsh interrogations at the American military prison in Cuba.

New allegations of mistreatment were made today by a lawyer for Feroz Abbasi, one of the men being questioned today at Paddington Green police station under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Gintanjali Gutierrez claimed Mr Abbasi had suffered a series of mental breakdowns which appeared to be brought on by forced injections with an

Sir John said confessions collected by MI5 officers who visited the suspects at Guantanamo Bay could only be accepted if Met anti-terrorist officers obtained fresh admissions from the men that their contents were true.

Asked whether material obained at the US military prison would be unacceptable in a British court Sir John replied: "Absolutely."

He added: "If the material being used is confirmed by them - - yes. If an admission is made, it is a totally different ballgame. If they go to court it could be used as evidence."

Richard Belmar from St John's Wood, Martin Mubanga from Wembley, Mr Abbasi from

Croydon and Moazzam Begg from Birmingham were captured by US forces in 2001 and

2002. They faced a three-year ordeal before their return to RAF Northolt yesterday afternoon.

Today their families spoke of their joy at their arrival in Britain, while campaigners expressed anger at their continued detention during police questioning.

Lawyer Gareth Pearce, who visited the detainees at Paddington Green last night, said: "They are very marked by three years of ill treatment and torture."

She said she was "pretty appalled" that they had not been freed on landing.

At Mr Belmar's family home in west London his mother Agnes, a part-time cleaner, said: "The first thing I'm going to do is give him a big hug. He's my baby."

His sister Janette said: "I'm very excited and I can't wait to see my brother. Probably by the weekend I will get to see him.

"I haven't got any idea how he is going to be. I think he will be very shocked at all the media attention. Probably he's very excited to see us because he has had to wait to see his family and he has been away for so long.

"As far as I'm concerned they have been through enough. Most have been in solitary confinement, have been tortured and faced all sorts of abuse through the American government.

"I just think it wicked. I never thought the Americans would have tortured anyone like the Nazis."

Mr Begg's father Azmat was said to have tears in his eyes as he watched television coverage of his son's return, telling local radio station BBC WM: "It is a nice thing I am watching ... I am a little bit emotional."

It emerged that Mr Belmar and Mr Begg intend to sue the US government for wrongful detention.

Muslim groups suspended meetings with Scotland Yard after their appeal for the men to be freed at once was rejected.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Anti- Terrorist Branch, said:"We have an absolute duty on behalf of all communities to investigate the circumstances leading to the men's detention."

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