British members of parliament (MPs) from all parties are planning to campaign against the CIA's use of UK airports and Royal Air Force bases when abducting terrorism suspects, who are then flown to countries where they are allegedly tortured. An all-party group is to be established this autumn to coordinate the campaign and to inquire into the extent of the UK's support for the operations, which are said to violate international law.
The development was announced as the UN began inquiring into the operations, known in US intelligence circles as "extraordinary renditions," and as an investigation by the Guardian uncovered the extent of UK logistical support.
Andrew Tyrie, Conservative MP for Chichester, is setting up the group after demanding information from the British Foreign Office about the UK's involvement in US prisoner operations. He said: "I am appalled by what appears to be growing evidence of complicity by the British government in torture of terrorist suspects or people whom the US may have information on, which could assist them to prosecute the war on terror. I don't think the information that comes from torture is reliable, but more importantly, the use of such practices undermines the values we espouse. The damage to those values is far greater than any benefit we might gain from these practices."
Sir Menzies Campbell, Liberal Democrat foreign-affairs spokesman, said the government was going to considerable lengths to enter agreements with governments to try to ensure deportees from the UK would not be subjected to torture. But, he added, it appeared the government was "allowing free passage to the Americans to transfer people from one jurisdiction to another where they are likely to be subjected to torture."
Menzies has tabled parliamentary questions about the practice, asking how many individuals had been deported or involuntarily transferred from the US on flights which have landed in the UK. He is asking ministers what records they have of individuals transported in this way, what records are maintained of aircraft used for the purpose and what military airfields were involved.
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