THE impact on civil liberties of the war on terror is to be discussed at a public meeting organised by the Swindon Stop The War Coalition.

The main speaker will be Matt Foot, a civil liberties lawyer who successfully defended protesters arrested in 2002 at the anti-globalisation protests in Genoa, Italy.

Coalition secretary Andy Newman said the coalition believed civil liberties were being eroded in the current international climate.

He said: "After the terrible bombings in Spain, everyone is understandably anxious to prevent similar atrocities here.

"However, we still need to question what the Government is doing.

"Not only are British subjects being held without charge in Guantanamo Bay, but 22 people are also held in Belmarsh prison in the UK.

"We don't know if they are innocent or guilty, because they have not even been accused of any specific crime.

"The Government is also seeking to curtail our rights to democratic demonstrations through the Civil Contingencies Bill."

The meeting will be held on Tuesday at the Friends Meeting House, in Eastcott Hill, beginning at 7.30pm.

All are welcome to attend.