Islamic terror suspects want to return to Algeria

A group of alleged Islamist terrorists living in Britain could return voluntarily to Algeria, blaming the "mental torture" of living under house arrest.

The proposal was revealed yesterday by a former Belmarsh detainee freed last year after spending three years in prison as an alleged supporter of a radical Islamist cell known as the Abu Doha group.

The man, who can only be identified as "A", a 39-year-old father of three, said he and five other fellow Algerian suspected terrorists were looking into returning home. He and two others are living under extremely strict controls on their movements; three others are being held without trial at Long Lartin prison.

"A" was one of nine Islamist terror suspects released from jail a year ago but then put under control orders by the Home Secretary, Charles Clarke. His order requires him to stay indoors for 22 hours a day and places very tough restrictions on visitors and access to the outside world.

He is considering returning to Algeria if an appeal against his control order fails in July, even though he would have to leave his wife and children behind in the UK. "Here we are not tortured physically, but mentally we are tortured. I'm the cause of suffering for my children. Enough is enough."

"A" telephoned the Algerian embassy to open negotiations after it emerged that ministers were trying to broker an agreement with the Algerian government that would allow the UK to deport suspects there. That deal, which would involve the Algerians promising not to ill-treat the deportees, has stalled.