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| MPs attack UK's role in rendition | MPs attack UK's role in rendition |
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| The government has not done enough to investigate the transfer of terror suspects through British territories, a report by MPs has said. | The government has not done enough to investigate the transfer of terror suspects through British territories, a report by MPs has said. |
| The study found there was inadequate investigation into the transportation of two men through the small British Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia. | The study found there was inadequate investigation into the transportation of two men through the small British Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia. |
| The Foreign Affairs Select Committee also had grave concerns that British officers were complicit in torture. | The Foreign Affairs Select Committee also had grave concerns that British officers were complicit in torture. |
| The Foreign Office said ministers would respond to Parliament in due course. | |
| The committee said there was a "moral and legal obligation" on ministers to ensure UK airspace and airports were not used as part of the "rendition circuit". | The committee said there was a "moral and legal obligation" on ministers to ensure UK airspace and airports were not used as part of the "rendition circuit". |
| Risk of complicity | Risk of complicity |
| It also expressed concern that allegations continued to be made about the use of the giant American airbase on Diego Garcia for US "rendition" flights carrying terrorist suspects. | It also expressed concern that allegations continued to be made about the use of the giant American airbase on Diego Garcia for US "rendition" flights carrying terrorist suspects. |
| The cross-party group of MPs urged ministers to pile pressure on the US to carry out a comprehensive check of its records to establish whether there have been other cases beyond two from 2002 it admitted last year. | The cross-party group of MPs urged ministers to pile pressure on the US to carry out a comprehensive check of its records to establish whether there have been other cases beyond two from 2002 it admitted last year. |
| The committee also said it was "imperative" the government was faithful to its legal requirement to actively prevent torture and to investigate allegations it had taken place. | The committee also said it was "imperative" the government was faithful to its legal requirement to actively prevent torture and to investigate allegations it had taken place. |
| The fact that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the UK should not lead to an official policy of turning a blind eye to its human rights failings Foreign Affairs Select Committee | The fact that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the UK should not lead to an official policy of turning a blind eye to its human rights failings Foreign Affairs Select Committee |
| The report said there was a danger the UK could be complicit in torture if it turned a blind eye while using information obtained in countries known for their human rights abuses. | The report said there was a danger the UK could be complicit in torture if it turned a blind eye while using information obtained in countries known for their human rights abuses. |
| The committee said: "There is a risk that use of evidence which may have been obtained under torture on a regular basis, especially where it is not clear that protestations about mistreatment have elicited any change in behaviour by foreign intelligence services, could be construed as complicity in such behaviour." | The committee said: "There is a risk that use of evidence which may have been obtained under torture on a regular basis, especially where it is not clear that protestations about mistreatment have elicited any change in behaviour by foreign intelligence services, could be construed as complicity in such behaviour." |
| 'Pulling punches' | 'Pulling punches' |
| Committee chairman Mike Gapes said: "The government has a duty to use information that comes into its possession, from whatever source and however obtained, if it believes this will avert the loss of life. | Committee chairman Mike Gapes said: "The government has a duty to use information that comes into its possession, from whatever source and however obtained, if it believes this will avert the loss of life. |
| "At the same time, we strongly recommend that the government should continue to exert as much persuasion and pressure as possible to try to ensure world-wide that torture is not employed as a method of interrogation." | "At the same time, we strongly recommend that the government should continue to exert as much persuasion and pressure as possible to try to ensure world-wide that torture is not employed as a method of interrogation." |
| The committee had particular concerns over Britain's relationship with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, and it accused the Foreign Office of "pulling its punches" over the "massive scale" of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. | The committee had particular concerns over Britain's relationship with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, and it accused the Foreign Office of "pulling its punches" over the "massive scale" of human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia. |
| "The fact that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the UK should not lead to an official policy of turning a blind eye to its human rights failings," the committee said. | "The fact that Saudi Arabia is a strategic ally of the UK should not lead to an official policy of turning a blind eye to its human rights failings," the committee said. |
| Britain should stand firm in its opposition to torture, both through our words and our actions Tim Hancock Amnesty International | Britain should stand firm in its opposition to torture, both through our words and our actions Tim Hancock Amnesty International |
| The report comes as Scotland Yard is conducting a criminal investigation into claims that MI5 was complicit in the abuse of Binyam Mohamed, a British resident who says he was tortured while being held at sites in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan. | The report comes as Scotland Yard is conducting a criminal investigation into claims that MI5 was complicit in the abuse of Binyam Mohamed, a British resident who says he was tortured while being held at sites in Pakistan, Morocco and Afghanistan. |
| Amnesty International UK campaigns director Tim Hancock described the report as "yet another voice in a growing chorus demanding greater transparency over the UK's involvement in 'war on terror' human rights abuses", and demanded a full, independent inquiry. | Amnesty International UK campaigns director Tim Hancock described the report as "yet another voice in a growing chorus demanding greater transparency over the UK's involvement in 'war on terror' human rights abuses", and demanded a full, independent inquiry. |
| "The committee rightly asks some very pointed questions about the use of UK airspace and territory, particularly Diego Garcia, in US rendition operations," he said. | "The committee rightly asks some very pointed questions about the use of UK airspace and territory, particularly Diego Garcia, in US rendition operations," he said. |
| "Britain should stand firm in its opposition to torture, both through our words and our actions." | "Britain should stand firm in its opposition to torture, both through our words and our actions." |
| Andrew Tyrie, the Tory MP who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition, said an inquiry should be held immediately. | Andrew Tyrie, the Tory MP who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition, said an inquiry should be held immediately. |
| "The... committee is mistaken to suggest that an independent judicial inquiry into allegations of UK complicity in torture should await a conclusion to 'current court cases'," he said. | "The... committee is mistaken to suggest that an independent judicial inquiry into allegations of UK complicity in torture should await a conclusion to 'current court cases'," he said. |
| "Neither the investigation by the police into the Binyam Mohamed case nor the other civil actions brought should stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this. | "Neither the investigation by the police into the Binyam Mohamed case nor the other civil actions brought should stand in the way of getting to the bottom of this. |
| "It is the only way to give the public confidence that we have got to the bottom of all of this, to draw a line under it and to move on." | "It is the only way to give the public confidence that we have got to the bottom of all of this, to draw a line under it and to move on." |