The leader of the Liberal Democrats has backed The Argus campaign to secure justice for Guantanamo detainee Omar Deghayes.

Menzies Campbell, who became party leader in March, has asked the US authorities for permission to visit the military camp in Cuba.

His spokesman told The Argus that, if granted entry, he would look at all cases of former British residents held in the camp.

"He is very supportive of the campaign for Omar, as with all other detainees," said the spokesman.

Mr Deghayes, from Saltdean, Brighton, is one of about 460 detainees who have been held for more than four years without charge.

Sir Menzies, who described Guantanamo as an "outrage" which "violates every known legal principle", wants to see for himself conditions at the camp in the wake of the suicide of three detainees last week.

However, he said he would not go unless he was granted full access to the inmates.

The United Nations Rights Commission last year refused an invitation to visit the camp after being told by the US authorities that it would not be able to speak to detainees.

Pressure is mounting on the US to close the controversial base. Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said it was now time for the base to be shut and inmates transferred to the US where they could face due process in the courts.

She said: "It is in a legal no man's land. Either it should be moved to America so they can hold those people under the American justice system, or it should be closed."

Conservative party chairman Francis Maude said time was "fast running out" for Guantanamo Bay.

Amnesty International said: "The US administration can no longer turn a blind eye to the cruelty of the regime that is has created in Guantanamo."

The international Red Cross said yesterday it hoped to visit the camp this week.