The Argus has taken its campaign for Guantanamo detainee Omar Deghayes to Westminster.

A dossier about the 36-year-old prisoner from Brighton was delivered to the Home Secretary by our parliamentary correspondent Daniel Bentley.

A letter from The Argus editor Michael Beard to Charles Clarke said: "We believe Mr Deghayes' continued incarceration by the US breaches Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states: 'Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.' Although Mr Deghayes does not have a UK passport, his family was welcomed by the UK Government as asylum seekers nearly 20 years ago and his normal address before his arrest was Saltdean, Brighton.

"We therefore believe the Government has a duty to lobby the US to charge Mr Deghayes and put him on trial, in accordance with international law, or free him immediately. Please take some time to look at our dossier on the case. We would very much like to know what action you plan to take."

Contained in the package was all The Argus coverage of Mr Deghayes' situation, going back to February when his case came to light.

It included interviews with Mr Deghayes' family and friends and stories about protests, MPs rallying behind his cause and Brighton and Hove City Council's motion, passed unanimously last March, calling on the Government to take action.

The cuttings were followed by signed statements from MPs David Lepper, Des Turner and Celia Barlow stating their support, a copy of the council's motion signed by leader Ken Bodfish and copies of letters sent to Mr Clarke by Mr Deghayes' legal team.

Mr Deghayes' lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith said: "This dossier is a really good thing because Westminster cares about local politics. If the Labour party means anything by its deference to local issues, surely the fact that Brighton wants justice for Omar should convince them not to stand in the way. By doing so, it is obstructing the will of the people."

Amani Deghayes, Omar's sister, said: "The dossier is a brilliant idea. I really hope it makes a difference.

"Charles Clarke will have no excuse now, he has all the information on Omar and can no longer fob us off claiming not to know who he is. He will have to give us an answer on what he intends to do."