The home secretary announced yesterday that foreign and British terror suspects will face a new system of "control orders" including curfews, tagging and being placed under indefinite house arrest. 

Charles Clarke told MPs he was "very well aware that the proposals I am making represent a very substantial increase in the executive powers of the state in relation to British citizens who we fear are preparing terrorist activities and against whom we cannot proceed in open court.

"This will be contentious but I believe the need for us to protect ourselves against the threat justifies the changes I propose."

He added that the ban on electronic intercept evidence being used in British courts will not be lifted.

Clarke also confirmed that a wider review of the anti-terrorism laws is still continuing.

Later the police released without charge the final four British citizens who were held in Guantanamo Bay.

The four, accused by America of being terrorists, had returned to Britain from the prison camp on Tuesday evening.

But after what was described as "cursory" questioning by their lawyers, they were released from the high-security Paddington Green police station in central London.

A wider review of the anti-terrorism laws is still continuing.