Blair says UK has been 'very open' on CIA terror flights
24.01.06
Tony Blair said yesterday that the government had been 'very open' about its knowledge of the transfer of US terror suspects through UK airports. There have been claims that hundreds of secret CIA flights have used the UK's airports for the practice of extraordinary rendition - spiriting away foreign citizens without the normal extradition process - which critics argue could lead to torture.
The foreign secretary, Jack Straw, told MPs last week the government knew of only 4 requests for the transfer of detainees through the UK, all of which pre-dated the September 11 2001 terror attacks and two of which were refused. The statement came after leaked Foreign Office memo was published by the New Statesman. Dated in December, it said the government did not know how many times the US had used British airports for rendition flights.
Mr Blair today told his monthly press conference he knew of no requests from the US for the use of British airspace for rendition other than the 4 revealed by Mr Straw. He said: 'I think Jack has disclosed any of the cases that have been put to us. We have looked very carefully at whether there was any request made to us and we have disclosed the circumstances in which those requests were made.'
'I don't know any more than has been put out there. I think we have been extremely open about it.' The prime minister said such flights only took place when the US had the consent of the country concerned and assurances were given about the treatment of the individual.
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