Firm acts on Afghanistan attack

A Berkshire law firm is one step away from challenging the government over its action against Afghanistan's ruling Taliban regime, it emerged last week.Three-partner Charles Khan is acting for an unnamed neutral Arab state and is currently gathering evidence to support a judicial review of the military retaliation over last month's terrorist attacks on the US.The firm argues that the 40-strong alliance which supports the action is an illegitimate coalition with no formal legal backing from the United Nations or NATO.Sajid Khan, a partner in the firm, said he had written to Prime Minister Tony Blair before the retaliation, warning that such action would be unlawful.

'We told him that if he committed any troops or resources to the retaliation, we would judicial review him,' Mr Khan said.'Now there is a stand-off; Ten Downing Street does not want to confirm or deny the extent of its involvement because it knows it is ultra vires.'Mr Khan added that the firm would move swiftly and reveal the name of the Arab country once it had formal notification from Whitehall of the the part the UK governmnet has played.But a spokesman for the Foreign Office denied that the government had been acting contrary to international law.

'We have notified the UN security council in accordance with article 51 of the UN Charter,' he said.'It is permissible to use force in self-defence to prevent attacks, and in this case the action is proportionate to the need to avert further attacks.

Self-defence is necessary both against those who threaten the attacks, and those assisting them.'Paula Rohan