Mujahedin's damages claim

An Algerian who fought for the Muslim fundamentalist cause yesterday won a High Court ruling that he is entitled to damages from the Home Secretary for unlawful detention over several weeks while his claim to asylum was considered.

Mr Justice Kay ruled that the man, a fighter with the mujahedin in Afghanistan, was wrongly held in custody after evidence emerged backing his claim to asylum.

The judge said that "Mr B", who cannot be named, had claimed asylum on arriving in Britain in June 1995 and was held while his claim was investigated. He was eventually granted asylum in July 1996, but the judge said he should have been released in May last year.