Lawyers urged to guard rule of law in terror crackdown

Lawyers were urged at this year's conference to mediate between the public and legislatures in Western democracies to safeguard the rule of law following the introduction of strict anti-terrorism measures since the attacks on the US in September last year.

Speaking at a conference session called 'International terrorism and the rule of law', Ramon Mullerat, former president of the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe, listed measures recently introduced - some of which he described as Draconian - including the US Patriot Act.

'The law must be on the side of humanity and not on the side of those in power,' he said.

Jason McCue, a partner with London human rights firm H2O, said that most efforts to confront Iraq - using UN resolutions - involved criminal sanctions.

He said civil remedies should be used, adding: 'bombs don't work when communities are harbouring terrorists.'

Jeremy Fleming