David Blunkett, the UK home secretary, came under fire...

David Blunkett, the UK home secretary, came under fire from backbench MPs who voiced opposition to his controversial anti-terrorist legislation, which proposes to detain terrorist suspects without trial.
At the second reading of the Anti-Terrorism, Security and Crime Bill, MPs criticised the home secretary for rushing through legislation: "When this house acts quickly it seldom acts wisely," warned one Labour backbencher.
Mr Blunkett defended the government's position and said that the events of September 11 "warranted immediate action".
He maintained that detaining terrorist suspects without trial was not an abuse of human rights even though the UK is the only European country planning to suspend part of the human rights conventions in order to introduce the legislation.
Under current plans, a suspect could be held for up to six months where deportation is impossible because they would face the death penalty if sent home.
The Anti-Terrorism, Security and Crime Bill could become law by Christmas.
Civil rights groups have reacted angrily to the proposals. John Wadham, director of Liberty, said it was a "fundamental violation of the rule of law, our rights and traditional British values".