UK denies collusion with terror suspect torture
David Milliken, 09 August 2009
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain said its security services worked to avoid colluding in mistreatment of terrorism suspects held overseas, after a report from lawmakers on Sunday expressed concern about cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.
Foreign Minister David Miliband and Interior Minister Alan Johnson defended Britain’s intelligence links with countries where detainees are at risk of torture or other abuse in a joint newspaper article.
“All the most serious plots and attacks in the UK in this decade have had significant links abroad. Our agencies must work with their equivalents overseas. So we have to work hard to ensure that we do not collude in torture or mistreatment,” the ministers wrote in the Sunday Telegraph.
Britain has been at heightened risk of terrorism with overseas links since the 9/11 attacks in the United States. On July 7, 2005, suicide bombers said to have received training in Pakistan killed 52 other passengers on London’s public transport system.
Britain has intensified foreign intelligence efforts since then, but rights groups have criticised it for not pressing more effectively against ill-treatment of detainees held by allies.
Lawmakers on the foreign affairs committee of Britain’s lower house of parliament singled out Britain’s close links with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) as a special worry in a report on Sunday.
