Mr Burns said that to his knowledge 15 UK citizens were detained at Pilzen with "a view to deportaton". He related that the British Embassy had not been able to make telephone contact with the prisons, and that he could not see a reason in the meantime to actually go to any prison in person to check on conditions or reports of torture.

He said that he had spoken with British activist Melanie John, who had told him that there had not been to her knowledge a mistreatment of prisoners. He stated that at present the British Embassy had no plans to interfere with the Czech police or any other authority there. He further stated that the Czech authorities have said that they will not allow any visitors to the prisoners, in reply to the suggestion that an IMC reporter in Prague should be allowed access to the prisons.