This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7871226.stm

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Miliband defends secrecy stance Miliband defends secrecy stance
(about 1 hour later)
David Miliband has told MPs that releasing classified US information could do "real and significant damage" to British national security.David Miliband has told MPs that releasing classified US information could do "real and significant damage" to British national security.
Publishing details of the treatment of Guantanamo detainee Binyam Mohamed, against US wishes, could damage trust vital to intelligence sharing, he said. Publishing details of the treatment of Binyam Mohamed against US wishes could hurt trust key to intelligence sharing.
Mr Mohamed, 30, an Ethiopian who lived in the UK, says he was tortured and British agencies were complicit. The Lib Dems said documents proved the US had threatened the UK over the issue, a claim that Mr Miliband denies.
The Lib Dems said ministers had "rolled over" in the face of a US threat. A US government letter to the Foreign Office warned of "lasting damage" to intelligence sharing if this happened.
But Mr Miliband denied the US threatened to "break off" security cooperation if its secret papers had been made public. 'Real threat'
Channel 4 News later reported that the US State Department had written to the Foreign Office last August saying the publication of classified documents relating to the case was "likely to result in serious damage to US national security". Mr Miliband has said the US did not threaten to "break off" security cooperation if its secret papers had been made public, a claim made by two High Court judges in a ruling on Wednesday.
It could also "harm existing intelligence information-sharing arrangements" between the two countries, the letter added. But Channel 4 News reported that the US State Department wrote to the Foreign Office last August saying the publication of classified documents relating to the case was "likely to result in serious damage to US national security".
Disclosure of the information could also "harm existing intelligence information-sharing arrangements" between the two nations, the letter added.
The issue at stake is not the content of the intelligence material but the principle at the heart of all intelligence relationships David Miliband Profile: Binyam MohamedTensions over Guantanamo case
A subsequent e-mail from the State Department asserted that disclosure could do "serious and lasting damage to the US-UK intelligence sharing relationship and thus the national security of the UK."
Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said he believed this constituted a "real threat" to UK interests.Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said he believed this constituted a "real threat" to UK interests.
Intelligence cooperation "When David Miliband was trying to say there wasn't an actual threat made, I think he was wrong."
In a Commons statement, Mr Miliband told MPs: "Our intelligence relationship with the US is vital to the national security of the UK. But Conservative security spokesman Dame Pauline Neville-Jones said that she did not believe this was the case, saying the US was setting out its position, albeit using "unambiguous" language.
"I don't think it is a threat. I think it is pretty uncompromising but I don't think it is a threat."
Mr Mohamed, 30, an Ethiopian who lived in the UK, says he was tortured and British agencies were complicit.
But judges ruled on Wednesday that details related to his case should remain secret because of a "threat" made by the US "that it would reconsider its intelligence sharing relationship".
In a Commons statement on Wednesday, Mr Miliband said the UK's intelligence relationship with the US was "vital to the national security of the UK".
"It is essential that the ability of the US to communicate such material in confidence to the UK is protected. Without such confidence they will simply not share that material with us.""It is essential that the ability of the US to communicate such material in confidence to the UK is protected. Without such confidence they will simply not share that material with us."
He added that it was his judgement that "the disclosure of the intelligence documents at issue by order of UK courts against the wishes of the US authorities would indeed cause real and significant damage to the national security and international relations of this country".He added that it was his judgement that "the disclosure of the intelligence documents at issue by order of UK courts against the wishes of the US authorities would indeed cause real and significant damage to the national security and international relations of this country".
I am not going to join a lobbying campaign against the American government for this decision. It is a decision they have to make David Miliband Profile: Binyam MohamedTensions over Guantanamo case
Binyam Mohamed has been held at Guantanamo Bay for four years after being accused by the US authorities of planning a terrorist attack.Binyam Mohamed has been held at Guantanamo Bay for four years after being accused by the US authorities of planning a terrorist attack.
He alleges he was tortured while being questioned in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, and that UK intelligence agencies were complicit in the practice. The US has denied his confession was extracted by torture. He alleges he was tortured while being questioned in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, and that UK intelligence agencies were complicit in the practice.
The US has denied his confession was extracted by torture.
The High Court was supplied with information, described as a "short summary" of his treatment, on the condition that it not be released publicly.The High Court was supplied with information, described as a "short summary" of his treatment, on the condition that it not be released publicly.
'No prejudice''No prejudice'
On Wednesday the judges ruled that the details should remain secret because of a "threat" made by the US "that it would reconsider its intelligence sharing relationship".
Mr Miliband told MPs there would be "no prejudice" to Mr Mohamed's case as a result of the ruling as the information was available to his US legal counsel.Mr Miliband told MPs there would be "no prejudice" to Mr Mohamed's case as a result of the ruling as the information was available to his US legal counsel.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
"The issue at stake is not the content of the intelligence material but the principle at the heart of all intelligence relationships - that a country retains control of its intelligence information and it cannot be disclosed by foreign authorities without its consent."The issue at stake is not the content of the intelligence material but the principle at the heart of all intelligence relationships - that a country retains control of its intelligence information and it cannot be disclosed by foreign authorities without its consent.
"That is a principle we neglect at our peril.""That is a principle we neglect at our peril."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague urged him to raise the issue with the new Obama administration in the US.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague urged him to raise the issue with the new Obama administration in the US.
'Rolled over'
He suggested that, with the changes in the new administration's policy as well as personnel changes in the CIA, "would it not be right to put it to the US administration that it could change its approach to this case without fundamentally breaching the principle of which the foreign secretary has spoken?"
He pointed out that the High Court had said there was nothing in the paragraphs kept secret that could be considered "highly sensitive, classified by US intelligence".He pointed out that the High Court had said there was nothing in the paragraphs kept secret that could be considered "highly sensitive, classified by US intelligence".
Mr Mohamed, a British resident, claimed he was torturedMr Mohamed, a British resident, claimed he was tortured
Mr Miliband replied that only the Americans could make a decision about whether sources would be compromised by disclosure adding: "I am not going to join a lobbying campaign against the American government for this decision. It is a decision they have to make." Mr Miliband replied that only the Americans could make a decision about whether sources would be compromised by disclosure adding.
The foreign secretary said the government had undertaken "a strenuous effort" to secure Mr Mohamed's release from Guantanamo and return to the UK.The foreign secretary said the government had undertaken "a strenuous effort" to secure Mr Mohamed's release from Guantanamo and return to the UK.
The fact that the government had asked the attorney general to investigate the torture claims was evidence of its commitment against torture, Mr Miliband said.
But Amnesty International director Kate Allen said: "It's not enough to pass this matter to a semi-secret committee or the attorney general, instead we need a proper independent public inquiry into Binyam's case and the wider practice of rendition and secret detention."But Amnesty International director Kate Allen said: "It's not enough to pass this matter to a semi-secret committee or the attorney general, instead we need a proper independent public inquiry into Binyam's case and the wider practice of rendition and secret detention."
Speaking at a joint press conference later with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Our policy is not to support torture and not to condone any form of torture anywhere. We support President Obama in his decision that the US will not use torture, that is the clear view of our government." Speaking at a joint press conference later with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "Our policy is not to support torture and not to condone any form of torture anywhere."
Mr Mohamed's brother, Dr Benhur Mohamed, said he had written to Mr Miliband asking him to help his brother but had not got an answer from him.Mr Mohamed's brother, Dr Benhur Mohamed, said he had written to Mr Miliband asking him to help his brother but had not got an answer from him.
He told the BBC: "I feel very sad. I feel betrayed. It's very cruel from a person who is elected by the people to protect humanity and freedom and the rule of law."
After Mr Miliband's statement lawyers for Binyam Mohamed asked the High Court to reconsider its decision on the basis that the UK government had provided "misleading evidence" - as Mr Miliband had said no threat had been made by the US and no approach had been made to the new administration.After Mr Miliband's statement lawyers for Binyam Mohamed asked the High Court to reconsider its decision on the basis that the UK government had provided "misleading evidence" - as Mr Miliband had said no threat had been made by the US and no approach had been made to the new administration.