LONDON, Oct. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Hundreds of civil rights campaigners staged on Sunday a protest outside a prison in London against foreign nationals being held under anti-terror laws which allows foreign suspects to be jailed indefinitely without trial.

    The protestors from human rights groups and Britain's Muslim communities gathered at the Belmarsh Prison to urge Home Secretary David Blunkett to either release the detainees or charge and try them. They held placards with slogans including "Belmarsh - Britain's Guantanamo Bay".

    "The use of detention without trial damages the legal system, damages the fight against terrorism and damages Britain's reputation internationally," a protestor was quoted as telling the Sky News.

    But the British government says the anti-terror laws are necessary for the security of the country with Home Secretary Blunkett insisting he uses the laws sparingly and that prisoners are released when mistakes are made.

    Eleven foreign terror suspects are currently held in British prisons or secure hospitals under the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, which was brought in within weeks of the Sept. 11 attack on America in 2001.

    Of the 17 foreigners originally detained under the act in Britain, an Algerian named as "D" was released from Woodhill jail where he had been held since December 2001, one known as "M" was freed on appeal, "G" released to house arrest, another one was detained under other powers and two others have chosen to leave the UK, as allowed by the legislation.

    Sunday's protest was staged as the High Court for the House of Lords of Britain is to begin a review on Monday of the legality of the detention and whether evidence possibly obtained by torture can be used against detainees. Enditem