The 10 terrorist suspects held at Belmarsh prison for more than two years are to be set free under controlled conditions within weeks, Charles Clarke announced yesterday.

Although the home secretary set out to put off the immediate use of powers to place the men under house arrest, he vowed to proceed with his bill to introduce home detention.

Under the plans, the government - and not judges - will decide whether suspects should be detained.

Tony Blair and Clarke both believe that if the home secretary of the day receives intelligence about an imminent threat he or she must act without waiting for the approval of a judge.

Clarke is publishing papers revealing the extent of the current threat in a bid to win support for the bill.