Blair supports detaining terror suspects for 90 days

BRITISH Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday declared his continuing support for police demands to detain terrorist suspects for up to 90 days without charge, less than 24 hours after Home Secretary Charles Clarke offered a compromise on the issue.

At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Mr Blair said he still regarded the police case for extended powers of detention as "compelling."

But he acknowledged the Government faced a stiff fight to push through its Terrorism Bill after it escaped a Commons defeat on another proposal, covering the glorification of terrorist acts, by just one vote.