LONDON - Britain believes the CIAâs reported secret transfer of terrorism suspects to foreign countries for interrogation is illegal, according to a leaked government document published on Thursday. The Foreign Office memo says the practice, known as extraordinary rendition, âcould never be legalâ if the detainee is at risk of torture, according to extracts printed in the Guardian newspaper. It adds that British cooperation âwould also be illegal if we knew of the circumstancesâ, according to the newspaper.Britain, a key US ally, has repeatedly sought to play down its role in the rendition controversy. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told parliament on Jan. 10 that Britain has approved only two CIA rendition flights. However, the leaked document, dated Dec. 7, 2005, says the CIA may have used British airports more often. âThe papers we have uncovered so far suggest that there could be more than the two cases referred to in the House (of Commons) by the foreign secretary,â the BBC News Web site quoted from an extract of the memo.
It was sent by an official in Strawâs department to an aide in Prime Minister Tony Blairâs office, the Guardian said. It was leaked to the New Statesman magazine and parts were reprinted in several British newspapers on Thursday.
The briefing documentâs author, named as Irfan Siddiq, appears to suggest the British government should seek to sidestep difficult questions over its role in the renditions. âWe should try to avoid getting drawn on detail and to try to move the debate on,â he wrote, according to the newspaper.â
A spokesman for Blair declined to comment. A Foreign Office spokesman had no direct comment. âThe government does not deport or extradite anyone to another state where there are substantive grounds to believe they would be subject to torture,â he said in a statement.