LONDON: An apparent split has opened up within the government over the need for a maximum 90-day detention period before charge for terrorist suspects. While the prime minister insisted last week that he had not changed his mind about pressing for longer detention periods, the attorney general told journalists he remained unconvinced of the need for a change.

A counter-terrorism bill expected soon could increase the 28-day period for which suspects can be held without charge.

But Lord Goldsmith said in a media briefing that such a change would need evidence which he had not seen so far. The government's initial attempt to increase the maximum detention period from 14 to 90 days led to Tony Blair's first defeat in the Commons a year ago. Parliament agreed only to double the period to 28 days.

Lord Goldsmith said in the media briefing: "The recent investigations demonstrate that it was right to extend the period to 28 days, but on extending it any further we need evidence to demonstrate that that is needed." Asked if there was such evidence, he replied: "Well, I haven't seen it yet."

The attorney general, the government's senior law officer, also said he favoured a change in the law to allow police to interview suspects after they have been charged, a power that would reduce the need for lengthy pre-charge detention.

It could apply to other criminals as well as terrorism suspects, he said.

Last Wednesday the prime minister said in a webcast on the Downing Street site: "I favoured it [a longer detention period] then, and I haven't changed my mind." He would seek cross-party backing for any extension of the detention limit rather than attempt to push laws through parliament in the face of opposition.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service