Tony Blair has personally asked President George Bush to send the four remaining Britons in Guantánamo Bay home, amid mounting calls for the government to increase its pressure on Washington to end alleged human rights abuses.
The Guardian has seen court papers revealing the prime minister's direct plea to Mr Bush. They form the government's formal defence to a legal action brought by lawyers for two of the remaining prisoners seeking a court order compelling Britain to formally demand their return.
The government's defence states: "The United Kingdom government is continuing to seek the return of the four remaining prisoners and the prime minister has made a di rect request to President Bush to that effect".
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guantanamo/story/0,13743,1247737,00.html