Guantanamo detainees in court victory

Britain's highest court has dismissed an attempt by MI5 and MI6 to hide evidence of their alleged complicity in the torture of British residents and their rendition to Guantanamo Bay.

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that secret evidence should not be used during trials for civil-damages claims because it would undermine the notion of open justice.

The case is the culmination of a two-year legal battle which began when a number of former Guantanamo detainees, none of whom was charged with terrorism offences, brought a civil claim for damages against the Government for alleged complicity in their plight. The security services asked the courts to allow secret evidence to be heard behind closed doors in order to defend themselves against the claims.