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MPs, peers urge torture inquiry MPs, peers urge torture inquiry
(about 3 hours later)
A parliamentary committee has called for an independent inquiry into claims of UK security services' complicity in the torture of terrorism suspects.A parliamentary committee has called for an independent inquiry into claims of UK security services' complicity in the torture of terrorism suspects.
The Joint Human Rights Committee of MPs and peers said it was unable to establish whether British officers were involved in mistreatment of suspects.The Joint Human Rights Committee of MPs and peers said it was unable to establish whether British officers were involved in mistreatment of suspects.
It also criticised ministers and the head of MI5 for refusing to testify to a parliamentary probe into the claims. It also criticised ministers and the head of MI5 for refusing to testify at parliamentary hearings on the claims.
A spokesman said the government would neither solicit nor encourage torture.A spokesman said the government would neither solicit nor encourage torture.
In a highly critical report, the joint parliamentary committee said there was now a "disturbing number of credible allegations" of British complicity in torture.In a highly critical report, the joint parliamentary committee said there was now a "disturbing number of credible allegations" of British complicity in torture.
These allegations include the rendition and alleged abuse of British resident Binyam Mohammed from Pakistan to Morocco, prior to being taken to Guantanamo Bay.These allegations include the rendition and alleged abuse of British resident Binyam Mohammed from Pakistan to Morocco, prior to being taken to Guantanamo Bay.
It is unacceptable both for Ministers to refuse to answer policy questions about the Security Services, and for the Director General of MI5 to answer questions from the press but not from a Parliamentary committee Andrew Dismore, committee chairmanIt is unacceptable both for Ministers to refuse to answer policy questions about the Security Services, and for the Director General of MI5 to answer questions from the press but not from a Parliamentary committee Andrew Dismore, committee chairman
The Metropolitan Police is investigating the role of one MI5 officer in Mr Mohamed's case.The Metropolitan Police is investigating the role of one MI5 officer in Mr Mohamed's case.
Last week the High Court revealed that the same officer visited Morocco three times during the period that Mr Mohamed says he was being secretly tortured there.Last week the High Court revealed that the same officer visited Morocco three times during the period that Mr Mohamed says he was being secretly tortured there.
The committee also looked at other cases where British men, two of whom have been convicted of terror offences, say they were visited by British intelligence officers while they were detained and allegedly mistreated by Pakistani authorities.The committee also looked at other cases where British men, two of whom have been convicted of terror offences, say they were visited by British intelligence officers while they were detained and allegedly mistreated by Pakistani authorities.
But in all the cases, the parliamentary committee said it could not get to the facts because too many questions were not being properly answered.But in all the cases, the parliamentary committee said it could not get to the facts because too many questions were not being properly answered.
It said that both the foreign secretary and home secretary, as well as the director general of MI5, had declined to give evidence on what was known about torture or mistreatment.It said that both the foreign secretary and home secretary, as well as the director general of MI5, had declined to give evidence on what was known about torture or mistreatment.
The ministers appeared "determined to avoid parliamentary scrutiny", said the report, and had batted away important questions with standardised answers.The ministers appeared "determined to avoid parliamentary scrutiny", said the report, and had batted away important questions with standardised answers.
Committee chairman Andrew Dismore MP said: "The allegations we have heard about UK complicity in torture are extremely serious.Committee chairman Andrew Dismore MP said: "The allegations we have heard about UK complicity in torture are extremely serious.
"It is unacceptable both for ministers to refuse to answer policy questions about the Security Services, and for the director general of MI5 to answer questions from the press but not from a Parliamentary committee.""It is unacceptable both for ministers to refuse to answer policy questions about the Security Services, and for the director general of MI5 to answer questions from the press but not from a Parliamentary committee."
Revised guidance dueRevised guidance due
The prime minister has pledged to publish revised guidance to intelligence officers but Mr Dismore added: "General assertions of non-complicity are no longer an adequate response to the many detailed allegations.The prime minister has pledged to publish revised guidance to intelligence officers but Mr Dismore added: "General assertions of non-complicity are no longer an adequate response to the many detailed allegations.
A more obvious case of outsourcing of torture, a more obvious case of passive rendition, I cannot imagine David Davis MP Torture complicity: Key casesA more obvious case of outsourcing of torture, a more obvious case of passive rendition, I cannot imagine David Davis MP Torture complicity: Key cases
"An independent inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of these stories, clear the air and make recommendations for the future conduct and management of the security services."An independent inquiry is the only way to get to the bottom of these stories, clear the air and make recommendations for the future conduct and management of the security services.
"The recent allegations should be a wake-up call to Ministers that the current arrangements are not satisfactory. We look to the Government to respond positively to our recommendations and not to continue to hide behind their wall of secrecy.""The recent allegations should be a wake-up call to Ministers that the current arrangements are not satisfactory. We look to the Government to respond positively to our recommendations and not to continue to hide behind their wall of secrecy."
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We also call on the government urgently to clarify what legally constitutes complicity in torture.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We also call on the government urgently to clarify what legally constitutes complicity in torture.
"All credible allegations of complicity in torture should be thoroughly investigated if public trust is to be restored.""All credible allegations of complicity in torture should be thoroughly investigated if public trust is to be restored."
A spokesman for the government rejected the call for an independent inquiry, saying that oversight was already sufficient.A spokesman for the government rejected the call for an independent inquiry, saying that oversight was already sufficient.
"The government unreservedly condemns the use of torture as a matter of fundamental principle and works hard with its international partners to eradicate this abhorrent practice worldwide," said the spokesman."The government unreservedly condemns the use of torture as a matter of fundamental principle and works hard with its international partners to eradicate this abhorrent practice worldwide," said the spokesman.
"The government has already made clear it is committed to publishing guidance to intelligence officers as well as asking the Intelligence and Security Committee to consider new developments on detention and rendition.""The government has already made clear it is committed to publishing guidance to intelligence officers as well as asking the Intelligence and Security Committee to consider new developments on detention and rendition."