Straw: no evidence of rendition

[cal04]

The government had "found no evidence" of detainees being "rendered" through Britain since September 11, the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, told MPs yesterday in an effort to quell the storm over the US practice of secretly transporting suspects to places where they may be tortured.

But Mr Straw also made clear that ministers had recently reminded US authorities that they "expect them to seek permission" to render detainees via British territory and airspace. The government would only grant permission if it was satisfied that the rendition "would accord with UK law and our international obligations", Mr Straw said.

He was forced to rush out a written statement after the leak of a memo in which an official in Mr Straw's private office advised the prime minister's office to "avoid getting drawn on detail", over the issue.

MPs said yesterday Mr Straw's statement left many questions unanswered. Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on rendition, said: "Nobody should be surprised the foreign secretary has found no evidence. It is clear the US authorities have gone to great lengths to ensure none is there." William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, demanded to know whether the government had considered drawing up an agreement with the US over the use of UK territory.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/story/0,11538,1691765,00.html?gusrc=rss

[SmokingJacket]

1. Frankly, Britain is the last place I'd rendition people through.

Too many spy cameras!

[Canuckistanian]

2. Probably true. But not a surprise to anyone.

What I mean is, it was probably negociated so that none of the "detainees" (hostages) would ever be routed through the UK.

The Brits dislike subterfuge, especially by an unpopular Prime Minister.