A British judge ordered foreign suspects held under discredited terrorism legislation freed on Friday while parliament was locked in round-the-clock debate to replace the laws before they expire. Cars were seen driving out of London's maximum security Belmarsh jail carrying some of the detainees. Others were being held at a mental hospital. They include the man accused of being the spiritual inspiration for the September 11 attacks on the United States.
The judge overseeing the tribunal holding them under the expiring measures sent one detainee home under severe bail restrictions and signed orders freeing seven more under similar terms. A further two will stay jailed for reasons unrelated to the terrorism powers.
The judge's orders effectively ended a three-year policy of holding the men without charge or trial under emergency laws, which were passed after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and ruled unlawful by judges last year and expire on Sunday.
But the terms of their bail - that they wear electronic tags, stay home for 12 hours a day and refrain from pre-arranged meetings - depend on the old powers due to expire. Prime Minister Tony Blair wants new powers to replace them.
Both of Britain's houses of parliament, the Commons and the Lords, debated through the night and well into the afternoon. Parliament was due to shut on Thursday, but official timekeepers stopped the clock at one minute before midnight.
The unelected Lords repeatedly voted to block the bill, weighing centuries-old rights against the need to protect Britain. Never before in modern times have the Lords defied the Commons with such tenacity.
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