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US ignored rendition protests, says intelligence committee

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, July 25, IRNA
UK-US Rendition
There is no evidence of any UK agency being directly involved in the controversial US rendition program, the Intelligence and Security Committee said in a report released Tuesday.

The report also suggested that the US ignored British concerns about using information from Britain's security services in its controversial practice of 'rendition' in its war against terrorism.

"In fighting international terrorism it is clear that the U.S. will take whatever action it deems is necessary, within US law, to protect its national security," said the committee.

"Although the US may take note of UK protests and concerns, it does not appear materially to affect their strategy: the rendition program has revealed aspects of this usually close relationship that are surprising and concerning," it said.

The all-party committee, which reports directly to the prime minister, was examining allegations of UK complicity in the American practice of allowing terror suspects to be tortured, but concluded there no evidence of British agencies being directly involved.

The inquiry found one case of Bisher al-Rawi and Jamil el-Banna, who were arrested in Gambia and transported to Guantanamo Bay, in which the British security services "inadvertently" prompted American action through the sharing of routine intelligence.

But its said that that it was "satisfied that the (intelligence) service did not intend" for the two British residents to be arrested or subsequently transported in 2002.

Iraqi-born al-Rawi was eventually released without charge from Guantanamo Bay earlier this year, while Jordanian-born el-Banna still remains in US extrajudicial detention.

"The Security Service did not foresee that the US authorities would disregard the caveats, given that they had honoured the caveat system for the past 20 years," the committee said.

It said the case showed "a lack of regard on the part of the US for UK concerns - despite strong protests - and that has serious implications for the intelligence relationship."
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