Judges attack Home Secretary over Briton's claim of U.S. torture

Judges yesterday criticised David Miliband for not treating seriously enough claims that a Briton was tortured in Guantanamo Bay.

The comments come after a legal wrangle over whether the Government will hand over secret documents relating to Binyam Mohamed, who is facing a U.S. military trial for terrorism.

If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

The legal team representing the Ethiopian-born 30-year-old asked the High Court to order the release of the material.

They claim it provides evidence he was kidnapped and subject to 'medieval' torture - including being repeatedly slashed in the genitals with a razor blade.

But the Foreign Office said it would only allow Mohamed's lawyers to see the papers if and when the U.S. puts him on trial.

Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Lloyd Jones gave the Government a further week to consider its position.

However, they highlighted 'insufficiencies' in Mr Miliband's reasons for blocking the immediate disclosure of the documents.

They said the Foreign Secretary's argument that it was not in the public interest to release the papers ignored the seriousness of the claims that a Briton had been inhumanely treated.

They added that it 'failed to address the abhorrence and condemnation accorded to torture'.