Europe

Europe

Report: UK seeks to question Guantanamo detainees

30 July 2011 03:45 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. British police are seeking to interview Guantanamo Bay detainees as part of an investigation into allegations that one of the countryâ€™s intelligence officials was complicit in the mistreatment of a terrorism suspect, a television station reported Friday, APA reports siting Associated Press.
Britainâ€™s ITV News reported Friday that Londonâ€™s Scotland Yard had requested access to detainees being held at the prison camp in Cuba to discuss claims that an officer from MI6, the U.K.â€™s overseas intelligence agency, witnessed abuse of suspects by U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
Police have been investigating allegations that the MI6 officer was complicit in the mistreatment of a non-British citizen since Sept. 2009, when the agency reported the official to the governmentâ€™s chief legal adviser. She ruled that detectives should begin an inquiry.
Both Scotland Yard and Britainâ€™s Foreign Office declined to comment on the report that police officers were seeking access to Guantanamo detainees.
"We are not providing a running commentary on this investigation, and we are not prepared to discuss further," police said in an emailed statement.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to an inquiry on the subject.
In November, prosecutors confirmed they would not bring charges against an officer from domestic spy agency MI5 who was investigated by police in an unrelated case over the alleged involvement in the mistreatment of ex-Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed.
Last year, Britain paid out settlements to a number of former Guantanamo Bay detainees who alleged U.K. complicity in their harsh treatment overseas, though the government did not admit any liability.
Britainâ€™s government has announced a sweeping inquiry into the countryâ€™s role in the "war on terror," which Foreign Secretary William Hague said was necessary to "clear the stain from our reputation as a country." The investigation, which wonâ€™t seek evidence from the U.S. or other foreign allies, will begin once police conclude their inquiry into the actions of the MI6 officer.