The British government will introduce new anti-terror laws to parliament next week after the existing legislation was ruled illegal, Home Secretary Charles Clarke said on Friday. "We need to discuss that before parliament. We need to put emergency legislation through. That is what we will do," he told Sky News without giving further details.

Clarke's announcement followed meetings with leaders of the two main opposition parties to try to thrash out a compromise on bitterly disputed proposed laws that include house arrest for terror suspects.

Clarke said the main opposition Conservative Party had rejected outright the government's proposals, while the smaller Liberal Democrats had been more amenable.

Copyright Reuters, 2005