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Miliband defends secrecy stance Miliband defends secrecy stance
(40 minutes later)
David Miliband has told MPs disclosing classified information provided by the US could do "real and significant damage" to British national security. David Miliband has said that disclosing classified information provided by the US could do "real and significant damage" to British national security.
In a statement on Binyam Mohamed, a Guantanamo detainee who claims Britain was complicit in torture, he defended a decision not to release the US papers. He defended his decision not to release the US papers in a Commons statement about Binyam Mohamed, a Guantanamo detainee who claims he was tortured.
He denied the US "threatened" to end security cooperation. The foreign secretary said the UK would "never condone" torture.
The foreign secretary also told the Commons ministers "never condone, authorise or cooperate in torture". And he denied the US threatened to "break off" security cooperation if its secret papers had been made public.
He told MPs 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". But he told MPs 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 said that US willingness to share confidential intelligence with the UK would be harmed if they believed it might end up in the public domain. Intelligence cooperation
Mr Miliband said the same applied to intelligence relationships with all countries Britain shared intelligence with. He added: "Our intelligence relationship with the US is vital to the national security of the UK.
Binyam Mohamed, an Ethiopian who lived in the UK, believes US papers detailing his treatment support his claims. "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."
But the High Court ruled they should remain secret as Mr Miliband felt there was a risk to intelligence co-operation from the US if they were published. Binyam Mohamed, 30, has been held at Guantanamo Bay for four years after being accused by the US authorities of planning a terrorist attack.
'Sensitive information'
In a statement, the White House thanked the UK government "for its continued commitment to protect sensitive national security information".
Mr Miliband insisted in a BBC interview on Wednesday he had not "rolled over" in the face of American pressure and was in fact protecting Britain's national interests.
It's very cruel from a person who is elected to protect humanity and freedom and the rule of law Dr Benhur Mohamed Profile: Binyam MohamedTensions over Guantanamo caseIt's very cruel from a person who is elected to protect humanity and freedom and the rule of law Dr Benhur Mohamed Profile: Binyam MohamedTensions over Guantanamo case
"If I authorise the sharing of information with another country I don't want them [the judges] to jeopardise our intelligence service by releasing that information against our will," he told the BBC's Newsnight. He alleges he was tortured while being questioned in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, and that UK intelligence agencies were complicit in the practice. He wants US papers detailing his treatment to be released.
But the High Court ruled they should remain secret as Mr Miliband felt there was a risk to intelligence co-operation from the US if they were published.
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.
"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."
'Rolled over'
But Ed Davey, for the Liberal Democrats, suggested the government had "rolled over in the face of a scarcely credible threat from a friend".
He said Britain was obliged not only to refrain from torture but to "bring those who torture to justice" and said Mr Miliband had "stood in the way of allowing justice to take its course".
The White House has thanked the UK government "for its continued commitment to protect sensitive national security information".
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Binyam Mohamed, 30, has been held at Guantanamo Bay for four years after being accused by the US authorities of planning a terrorist attack.Binyam Mohamed, 30, 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.He alleges he was tortured while being questioned in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan, and that UK intelligence agencies were complicit in the practice.
'No threat'
His US military lawyer said the US authorities were withholding information about her client's alleged torture in order to save face.His US military lawyer said the US authorities were withholding information about her client's alleged torture in order to save face.
On Wednesday, two British judges claimed that the US had threatened to stop sharing intelligence with the UK if it made public details of Mr Mohamed's treatment.On Wednesday, two British judges claimed that the US had threatened to stop sharing intelligence with the UK if it made public details of Mr Mohamed's treatment.
But the foreign secretary said there had been "no threat" from the US and insisted that intelligence co-operation "depends on confidentiality". 'Very cruel'
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Shadow security minister Dame Pauline Neville Jones, a former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said Mr Miliband was following the "established position" in not releasing US-owned information without the American government's consent.Shadow security minister Dame Pauline Neville Jones, a former chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said Mr Miliband was following the "established position" in not releasing US-owned information without the American government's consent.
But she said she hoped both governments could look at the issue again and that the US government would decide it was right to release details in the public interest - while separating them from "sensitive" intelligence information.But she said she hoped both governments could look at the issue again and that the US government would decide it was right to release details in the public interest - while separating them from "sensitive" intelligence information.
"When there's a suggestion of wrongdoing we do have to try and find a way through," she told the BBC."When there's a suggestion of wrongdoing we do have to try and find a way through," she told the BBC.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said the government should be able to protect some sensitive information but said it was "unacceptable" to conceal "the circumstances around the alleged torture of this individual". 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.
"I think it smacks of a cover-up unless the government comes clean," he added. He told the BBC: "I was truly begging him to do something about Binyam, that was my plea, but I didn't hear anything.
'Feel betrayed'
Mr Mohamed's brother, Dr Benhur Mohamed, said he had written to Mr Miliband asking him to help his brother.
Dr Mohamed said it was "very cruel" of him not to reply.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Mohamed said he believed Mr Miliband had failed to protect his brother's human rights.
Miliband: 'We would never condone torture'
"I did write to Mr Miliband, but I didn't get any answer from him," he said. "I was truly begging him to do something about Binyam, that was my plea, but I didn't hear anything.
"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.""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."
Dr Mohamed said his brother was a "quiet" and "helpful" person. Dr Mohamed said of his brother: "He is very supportive and very considerate. He is not the kind of person who would want to hurt anybody."
"He is very supportive and very considerate. He is not the kind of person who would want to hurt anybody," he said.
The decision to block the release of information about his brother's detention was "unacceptable," Dr Mohamed added.