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| Abdullah al-Senussi: Foreign Office urged to prevent execution of spy chief | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Britain's Foreign Office is being urged to prevent the summary execution in Libya of Abdullah al-Senussi, Muammar Gaddafi's former intelligence chief who is accused of orchestrating the 1998 Lockerbie bombing. | |
| Ben Emmerson QC, representing the security supremo once described as the "world's most wanted man", is calling for his trial to be held at the international criminal court (ICC) in the Hague. Emmerson has also raised the issue of whether UK officials were involved directly or indirectly in questioning Senussi while he was held in the west African state of Mauritania after fleeing Libya. | |
| In a letter to William Hague, the foreign secretary, Emmerson alleges Senussi was subject to "unlawful rendition" and handed over to the new Libyan government for 250m dinars (£125m). | In a letter to William Hague, the foreign secretary, Emmerson alleges Senussi was subject to "unlawful rendition" and handed over to the new Libyan government for 250m dinars (£125m). |
| His trial in Libya, Emmerson warns, is: "likely to be a short and summary process resulting in his conviction and summary execution ... I assume that the United Kingdom considers the flagrantly unlawful conduct of Libya in Mr Al-Senussi's case [is] ... a direct challenge to the authority of the [UN] security council and the ICC ... and it flies in the face of the Libyan authorities' professed commitment to the rule of law." | His trial in Libya, Emmerson warns, is: "likely to be a short and summary process resulting in his conviction and summary execution ... I assume that the United Kingdom considers the flagrantly unlawful conduct of Libya in Mr Al-Senussi's case [is] ... a direct challenge to the authority of the [UN] security council and the ICC ... and it flies in the face of the Libyan authorities' professed commitment to the rule of law." |
| Emmerson told the International Bar Association that sanctions should be imposed on Libya. | |
| Lord Macdonald, the former director of public prosecutions, has also put down a series of questions in the House of Lords about Senussi, asking for information about payments and whether "any [government] servants or agents has taken part in the questioning of Abdullah Al-Senussi during the period of his detention in Mauritania (from 17 March 2012 to 5 September 2012) or in [Libya since then]". | |
| Macdonald asked if there had been involvement "either directly or by providing questions or lines of questioning to be put to him in interview". That method has been used in the past by British intelligence agencies in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria. The Foreign Office declined to comment on the allegation or intelligence matters. | Macdonald asked if there had been involvement "either directly or by providing questions or lines of questioning to be put to him in interview". That method has been used in the past by British intelligence agencies in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Algeria. The Foreign Office declined to comment on the allegation or intelligence matters. |
| Senussi's lengthy service as spy chief means he may be in possession of crucial information relating not only to the Lockerbie bombing but also the 1984 shooting of the police officer Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London, as well as arms shipments to the IRA. | Senussi's lengthy service as spy chief means he may be in possession of crucial information relating not only to the Lockerbie bombing but also the 1984 shooting of the police officer Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan embassy in London, as well as arms shipments to the IRA. |
| British intelligence relations with Libya are extremely sensitive. A former Libyan dissident, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, is suing over his rendition back to Tripoli with the help of MI6 in 2004. | British intelligence relations with Libya are extremely sensitive. A former Libyan dissident, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, is suing over his rendition back to Tripoli with the help of MI6 in 2004. |
| Libyan sources close to Senussi told the Guardian on Thursday they did not believe a trial was imminent and the recent announcement from Tripoli was intended as a tactical response to continuing pressure from the ICC. | Libyan sources close to Senussi told the Guardian on Thursday they did not believe a trial was imminent and the recent announcement from Tripoli was intended as a tactical response to continuing pressure from the ICC. |
| Taha Baara, spokesman for Libya's attorney general, said on 1 January a trial would be held "within a month". The ICC is due to hold a hearing on the case on 23 January. Libya was not obliged to hand him over to the ICC, Baara said. | Taha Baara, spokesman for Libya's attorney general, said on 1 January a trial would be held "within a month". The ICC is due to hold a hearing on the case on 23 January. Libya was not obliged to hand him over to the ICC, Baara said. |
| Senussi is being held incommunicado in a prison at the Hadbat al-Khadra compound in Tripoli and has not been allowed to see relatives or legal representatives. The Libyan sources said he had been questioned by US and possibly French intelligence officials while being held in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. No foreign officials had seen him since he was transferred to Libyan custody last September. | |
| Foreign interest in Senussi focuses mainly on his role in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. At the time he was head of Libya's external security organisation. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted for the crime, comes from the same tribe as Senussi, who is Gaddafi's brother-in-law. But inside Libya he is most closely associated with the notorious 1996 massacre of 1,200 inmates at Abu Salim prison in Tripoli. | Foreign interest in Senussi focuses mainly on his role in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing. At the time he was head of Libya's external security organisation. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted for the crime, comes from the same tribe as Senussi, who is Gaddafi's brother-in-law. But inside Libya he is most closely associated with the notorious 1996 massacre of 1,200 inmates at Abu Salim prison in Tripoli. |
| Senussi's case is closely linked to that of Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's son. All three were indicted by the ICC in March 2011. Islam is being held by a militia brigade in the western Libyan city of Zintan and will be tried there. | Senussi's case is closely linked to that of Saif al-Islam, Gaddafi's son. All three were indicted by the ICC in March 2011. Islam is being held by a militia brigade in the western Libyan city of Zintan and will be tried there. |
| Gaddafi's last prime minister, Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, is also facing trial for war crimes. He was handed over to Libya from neighbouring Tunisia. | Gaddafi's last prime minister, Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, is also facing trial for war crimes. He was handed over to Libya from neighbouring Tunisia. |
| Macdonald said: "The Libyan government need to decide whether they want to join the international community or not. If they continue to flout the UN security council [resolution] ... they are not going to be treated seriously as part of the community of nations. It's also an important matter for the British government because we played a significant role in putting these people in power." | Macdonald said: "The Libyan government need to decide whether they want to join the international community or not. If they continue to flout the UN security council [resolution] ... they are not going to be treated seriously as part of the community of nations. It's also an important matter for the British government because we played a significant role in putting these people in power." |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We continue to engage with the Libyan authorities on their plans following the extradition of Senussi back to Libya. We have underlined with the Libyan authorities that it is important Senussi is detained in accordance with Libyan law, that he is held by a legitimate authority, and that any potential criminal trial held in Libya meets international standards. It is also important that Senussi has access to legal representation. | A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We continue to engage with the Libyan authorities on their plans following the extradition of Senussi back to Libya. We have underlined with the Libyan authorities that it is important Senussi is detained in accordance with Libyan law, that he is held by a legitimate authority, and that any potential criminal trial held in Libya meets international standards. It is also important that Senussi has access to legal representation. |
| "The Libyan authorities are fully aware of their obligations to the international criminal court and receive expert advice from their own international lawyers. We understand that the deadline for the Libyan authorities to provide to the specific response to the ICC is 15 January 2013. We continue to remind the Libyan authorities of their obligation to co-operate with UNSCR 1970 and engage accordingly with the international criminal court." | "The Libyan authorities are fully aware of their obligations to the international criminal court and receive expert advice from their own international lawyers. We understand that the deadline for the Libyan authorities to provide to the specific response to the ICC is 15 January 2013. We continue to remind the Libyan authorities of their obligation to co-operate with UNSCR 1970 and engage accordingly with the international criminal court." |