4.12.05

Extraordinary rendition and international law

A group from the three UK parliamentarian parties (Labor, Conservatives and Lib Democrats) investigates the use of UK airports and military bases by the CIA during illegal expeditions or 'extraordinary renditions' transfering 'terror suspects' abducted from their own countries and their homes to secret jails abroad where they can be tortured and kept from having legal counsel and advice, outside US jurisdiction.
''The all-party parliamentary group on extraordinary rendition, with representatives from the three main parties, was formed after the Guardian reported in September that aircraft operated by the CIA had flown in and out of civilian airports and RAF bases in the UK at least 210 times since September 11 2001.
Last night the Foreign Office said: "We have no evidence to corroborate media allegations about use of UK territory in rendition operations."
A report for the group by New York University's school of law's centre for human rights and global justice, concluded: "A state which aids or assists another state in the commission of an internationally wrongful act by the latter is internationally responsible for doing so."
The authors believe the government could face legal sanctions because of the UK's support. "Accomplice liability has been recognised in international criminal law since at least the Nuremberg trials," they said.

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Since March 29th 2006