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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
|---|---|
| UK apology over rendition flights | UK apology over rendition flights |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| David Miliband has admitted two US 'extraordinary rendition' flights landed on UK territory in 2002. | David Miliband has admitted two US 'extraordinary rendition' flights landed on UK territory in 2002. |
| The foreign secretary said in both cases US planes refuelled on the UK dependent territory of Diego Garcia. | The foreign secretary said in both cases US planes refuelled on the UK dependent territory of Diego Garcia. |
| He said he was "very sorry" to have to say that previous denials made in "good faith" were now having to be corrected. | He said he was "very sorry" to have to say that previous denials made in "good faith" were now having to be corrected. |
| The renditions - the transport of terror suspects around the world for interrogation - only came to light after a US records search, he said. | The renditions - the transport of terror suspects around the world for interrogation - only came to light after a US records search, he said. |
| BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds said the revelations were "a serious embarrassment for the British government". | BBC world affairs correspondent Paul Reynolds said the revelations were "a serious embarrassment for the British government". |
| Former foreign secretary Jack Straw and former prime minister Tony Blair made statements in 2005, 2006 and 2007 saying there was no evidence that rendition flights had stopped on UK territory. | Former foreign secretary Jack Straw and former prime minister Tony Blair made statements in 2005, 2006 and 2007 saying there was no evidence that rendition flights had stopped on UK territory. |
| Water boarding | Water boarding |
| Mr Miliband said the US had told him that neither of the two men involved in the rendition were British, neither left the plane and the US had "assured" him that no US detainees were ever held on Diego Garcia. | Mr Miliband said the US had told him that neither of the two men involved in the rendition were British, neither left the plane and the US had "assured" him that no US detainees were ever held on Diego Garcia. |
| One of the men involved has since been released and one is at Guantanamo Bay. | One of the men involved has since been released and one is at Guantanamo Bay. |
| We both agree that the mistakes made in these two cases are not acceptable David Miliband Analysis: Political fall-outIn quotes: Rendition denials | We both agree that the mistakes made in these two cases are not acceptable David Miliband Analysis: Political fall-outIn quotes: Rendition denials |
| Mr Miliband said the UK had been told neither of them had been involved in "secret detention centres" nor were subject to water boarding "or other similar forms of interrogation". | Mr Miliband said the UK had been told neither of them had been involved in "secret detention centres" nor were subject to water boarding "or other similar forms of interrogation". |
| He said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shared his "deep regret" about mistakes in the two cases. | He said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice shared his "deep regret" about mistakes in the two cases. |
| "Extraordinary rendition" is the term used by US intelligence agencies when they send terror suspects for interrogation by security officials in other countries, where they have no legal protection or rights under American law. | "Extraordinary rendition" is the term used by US intelligence agencies when they send terror suspects for interrogation by security officials in other countries, where they have no legal protection or rights under American law. |
| 'Widespread concern' | 'Widespread concern' |
| The UK has always insisted that it expects the US to seek its permission before rendering detainees through UK airspace and or territory. | The UK has always insisted that it expects the US to seek its permission before rendering detainees through UK airspace and or territory. |
| Later Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It is unfortunate that this was not known and it was unfortunate it happened without us knowing that it had happened but it's important to put in procedures [to ensure] this will not happen again." | Later Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "It is unfortunate that this was not known and it was unfortunate it happened without us knowing that it had happened but it's important to put in procedures [to ensure] this will not happen again." |
| He added: "We share the disappointment that everybody has about what's actually happened." | He added: "We share the disappointment that everybody has about what's actually happened." |
| The truth is this is a gross embarrassment for the British government Sir Menzies CampbellFormer Lib Dem leader class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7257500.stm">In full: Miliband statement class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7257524.stm">In full: CIA statement | |
| In the Commons, William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said: "This information will cause widespread concern given the categoric nature of the assurances previously given. | In the Commons, William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said: "This information will cause widespread concern given the categoric nature of the assurances previously given. |
| "Assurances we entirely accept were given in good faith although they have turned out to be false. More worrying still, it means that very specific assurances about the use of the facilities at Diego Garcia have also turned out, although given in good faith, to have been false." | "Assurances we entirely accept were given in good faith although they have turned out to be false. More worrying still, it means that very specific assurances about the use of the facilities at Diego Garcia have also turned out, although given in good faith, to have been false." |
| Legal responsibilities | Legal responsibilities |
| For the Lib Dems, Edward Davey said extraordinary rendition was "state-sponsored abduction" and the government must ensure that Britain was not used to "facilitate" it. | For the Lib Dems, Edward Davey said extraordinary rendition was "state-sponsored abduction" and the government must ensure that Britain was not used to "facilitate" it. |
| He called for a full inquiry into the admission and said Britain appeared to have been left "completely in the dark". | He called for a full inquiry into the admission and said Britain appeared to have been left "completely in the dark". |
| Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added: "The truth is this is a gross embarrassment, in spite of its good faith, for the British government, involving as it does a breach of our moral obligations and possibly our legal responsibilities as well." | Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell added: "The truth is this is a gross embarrassment, in spite of its good faith, for the British government, involving as it does a breach of our moral obligations and possibly our legal responsibilities as well." |
| BBC correspondent Paul Reynolds said that not only was the US government supposed to ask permission for such flights, but assurances were given to Britain which led to misleading statements by ministers. | BBC correspondent Paul Reynolds said that not only was the US government supposed to ask permission for such flights, but assurances were given to Britain which led to misleading statements by ministers. |
| He said it was "bound to lead to a further loss of confidence in the word of the US" with "the only mitigating factor" being "that the US volunteered the information". | He said it was "bound to lead to a further loss of confidence in the word of the US" with "the only mitigating factor" being "that the US volunteered the information". |
| Labour MP Mike Gapes, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, told MPs the US administration "has clearly misled or lied to our government, [which] has resulted in our government misleading... members of this House." | Labour MP Mike Gapes, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, told MPs the US administration "has clearly misled or lied to our government, [which] has resulted in our government misleading... members of this House." |
| 'Good faith' | 'Good faith' |
| But Mr Miliband told the BBC later: "I do not believe the US government set out to mislead the British government. I believe they told us in good faith they had no evidence of the use of Diego Garcia." | But Mr Miliband told the BBC later: "I do not believe the US government set out to mislead the British government. I believe they told us in good faith they had no evidence of the use of Diego Garcia." |
| He said there had "clearly" been an error in previous trawls of records and said British principles were "absolutely clear" - that it would not support the use of rendition for torture and always required permission for the use of British bases. | He said there had "clearly" been an error in previous trawls of records and said British principles were "absolutely clear" - that it would not support the use of rendition for torture and always required permission for the use of British bases. |
| "I have it from the mouth of the Secretary of State of the US that that is understood at the highest levels of in the American government," he added. | "I have it from the mouth of the Secretary of State of the US that that is understood at the highest levels of in the American government," he added. |
| In a statement CIA director Mike Hayden said neither of the two men "was ever part of CIA's high-value terrorist interrogation program" | In a statement CIA director Mike Hayden said neither of the two men "was ever part of CIA's high-value terrorist interrogation program" |
| He added: "These were rendition operations, nothing more. There has been speculation in the press over the years that CIA had a holding facility on Diego Garcia. That is false. There have also been allegations that we transport detainees for the purpose of torture. That, too, is false. | He added: "These were rendition operations, nothing more. There has been speculation in the press over the years that CIA had a holding facility on Diego Garcia. That is false. There have also been allegations that we transport detainees for the purpose of torture. That, too, is false. |
| "Torture is against our laws and our values. And, given our mission, CIA could have no interest in a process destined to produce bad intelligence." | "Torture is against our laws and our values. And, given our mission, CIA could have no interest in a process destined to produce bad intelligence." |
| He added that the CIA had been "in the wrong" over the information given to the UK and said it was important to "take responsibility for errors and to learn from them". | He added that the CIA had been "in the wrong" over the information given to the UK and said it was important to "take responsibility for errors and to learn from them". |