Prime Minister Tony Blair has blamed opposition politicians and the courts for the terror suspect escape scandal.
Some of the "self-same people" who criticised the Government's terrorist internment powers were now attacking the control order regime created as a replacement, he said.
The PM's defence of the fiasco - which has seen two of the 15 men on control orders vanish without trace - came as Home Secretary John Reid came under pressure to make an emergency statement to MPs.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said ministers should have been more candid about the disappearances, which were both kept secret.
He demanded a full inquiry and said Mr Reid must update the House of Commons immediately.
Policing and security minister Tony McNulty admitted that failings in the control orders system "need sorting out".
But a Home Office spokeswoman refused to disclose whether a review had begun - months after the first terror suspect fled - or to discuss how it might take place.
At his monthly Downing Street press conference, Mr Blair said: "We, of course, wanted far tougher laws against terrorism.
"We were prevented by the Opposition in Parliament and then by the courts in ensuring that that was done. Of course, we have got to ensure that if someone breaches their control order, that they are properly sought after, and that is a matter for the police."
He said it was clear that control orders were not as effective as detention. Mr Blair added: "I think people have got to be careful of forgetting completely the history of this."
