UK Rights Group Hails Court's Libyan Rendition Ruling

Amnesty International UK has welcomed a Court of Appeal ruling supporting the hearing of a case brought by a Libyan politician suing the British government for its part in his "rendition" to Libya during Muammar Gaddafi's rule.



The court ruled earlier on Thursday that allegations made by Abdul Hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar, that the British government - specifically former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and ex-head of counter-terrorism at MI6, Sir Mark Allen - was complicit in their rendition from China to Libya, were too "grave" not to be heard.



Belhaj claims that he and his wife, who was four months pregnant at the time, were beaten and interrogated by U.S. agents in Bangkok after being detained by Chinese officials for two days in Beijing after they tried to board a commercial flight to the U.K. in February 2004, before being flown to Kuala Lumpur and then Thailand.



Hailing the court decision, Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:  "It is only right that UK officials - right to the very top if necessary - are answerable for actions that may have led to terrible mistreatment at the hands of Gaddafi's henchmen in Libya.



"The UK has been trying to place itself above the law - a shocking response to a very serious case."



She went on:  "British officials have got their paw prints all over this case and it is far too late for them to pretend otherwise."



"The UK should now stop blocking attempts to discover the full truth about the involvement of British officials in this sordid and deeply troubling affair," she added.



'Grave allegations'



The High Court in London had initially dismissed the case, but Justice Lloyd Jones and Lady Justice Sharp ruled earlier on Thursday: "There is a compelling public interest in the investigation by the English courts of these very grave allegations."



Belhaj and his wife claim they were put on a plane to London in March 2004 and later taken to Libya on a plane said to be owned by a CIA front organization.



Belhaj alleges he was tortured in prison once in Libya and questioned by British agents who he made aware of his ill treatment.



Belhaj was kept in a Libyan prison for six years, but his wife was released shortly before giving birth.



The case opens the doors for other claims to be brought against the British government.



Belhaj's lawyer, Sapna Malik, said: "It's a very significant step forward to these cases finally being heard in the British courts."



The British government is appealing to the Supreme Court against the ruling.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Greater London