Fight against terrorism 'must be legal'

The fight against terrorism must observe the rule of law, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said yesterday in a thinly-veiled criticism of the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"In order for the fight against terrorism to be as effective as possible we have to act while respecting our values and our rules," Mr de Villepin said during a speech at the Institute of Higher Studies of National Defence.

"Let us avoid zones where there are no rights, let us reject anything that can give rise to arbitrariness, whether this means military interventions without the international community's authorisation, exceptional tribunals, or detention centres outside the framework of international law," he said.

"The greatest determination in the face of terrorism, yes, but always while respecting the rule of law."

The US military is holding 460 foreigners at the Guantanamo prison, many of whom were captured in Afghanistan in the US-led war to oust the Taliban and al Qaeda after the September 11 attacks. Nearly all are being held without charge.

US President George W. Bush acknowledged on Wednesday that the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, where three detainees committed suicide last weekend, has damaged the US image abroad and said it should be shut down.

However, Mr Bush added a plan for relocating the prisoners was needed first and said he also was awaiting a Supreme Court decision about the forum for handling detainee cases.