Britons freed from Cuba have passports taken away

Two of the men returned from Guantanamo Bay have had their passports confiscated, raising new questions about the alleged threat they pose.

Home Secretary Charles Clarke wrote to the terrorist suspects saying they would not be allowed new documents.

In his letter, released by solicitors acting for the men, Mr Clarke made clear they were considered too dangerous to Britain and her allies to be given freedom to travel.

Critics immediately asked why, if the men were considered a security threat, the Government campaigned so vigorously to gain their release from the US detention camp in Cuba where they were held without trial or charge until they were freed last month.

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, suggested the passport seizure was part of a secret deal between Britain and the US to secure their release.

Mr Clarke used a littleknown power under Royal Prerogative to take action against Martin Mubanga and Feroz Abbasi. He wrote that the powers were available "if past or proposed activities were so demonstrably undesirable that the granting of the passport would be contrary to the public interest".

His letter said he considered there were "strong grounds for believing that, on leaving the UK, you would take part in activities against the UK or allied targets. We therefore decided... to withdraw your passport facilities for the time being."

He added that the measure was considered " proportionate". It is not known whether the other two British detainees, Richard Belmar and Moazzam Begg, have been refused passports.

The Conservatives made no comment in advance of talks being held on Friday between Michael Howard and Tony Blair over the Government's controversial anti-terrorist legislation. All four Britons were arrested on their return home and questioned by antiterrorist police before being released without charge.