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Blair gets antiterrorism law

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair won Parliament's support Friday for a new antiterrorism law allowing the government to impose strict controls on 10 terror suspects - including an Islamic preacher accused of inspiring lead Sept. 11 hijacker Mohamed Atta - who have been granted bail.

The House of Lords approved new powers to order house arrest and impose curfews and electronic tagging without trial on terror suspects after the government made concessions to end a bitter parliamentary deadlock just three days before similar legislation expired.

The new law means the 10 suspects will remain free on bail but are subject to strict court restrictions on their activities and travels. The government has indicated it will not try to impose the toughest measure of house arrest.

The Prevention of Terrorism Bill, which also allows the government to ban terror suspects from meeting certain people or traveling and to restrict their access to the Internet or telephone, later received the formality of royal assent to become law.

Eight suspects were granted bail Friday, a day after two others were granted bail. The suspects include radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, who has been described by a Spanish judge as Osama bin Laden's "spiritual ambassador in Europe."

The eight men granted bail Friday - six of whom were identified by one letter - spent three years in a high-security prison without charge. The other named suspect was Palestinian Mahmoud Suliman Ahmed Abu Rideh.

[Last modified March 12, 2005, 00:50:11]