LONDON: Britain's attorney general said Monday that he is not convinced of the need to hold terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge -- a key goal of his close ally, Prime Minister Tony Blair. Lord Goldsmith, the government's chief legal adviser, was asked by reporters at a briefing whether there was evidence to support increasing the limit to 90 days. "Well, I haven't seen it yet," he said. "The recent investigations demonstrate that it was right to extend the period to 28 days, but on extending it any further we need evidence to demonstrate that that is needed," Goldsmith said. Last year, Blair suffered a humbling parliamentary defeat -- prompted by a rebellion in his own Labour Party -- when lawmakers rejected plans to allow suspects to be held for a maximum of 90 days, agreeing instead on a compromise of 28 days.
Lord Goldsmith, the government's chief legal adviser, was asked by reporters at a briefing whether there was evidence to support increasing the limit to 90 days. "Well, I haven't seen it yet," he said.
"The recent investigations demonstrate that it was right to extend the period to 28 days, but on extending it any further we need evidence to demonstrate that that is needed," Goldsmith said.
Last year, Blair suffered a humbling parliamentary defeat -- prompted by a rebellion in his own Labour Party -- when lawmakers rejected plans to allow suspects to be held for a maximum of 90 days, agreeing instead on a compromise of 28 days.
