Independent inquiry demanded into UK involvement in illegal abductions

12.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 8th Mar 2008

The Liberal Democrats are demanding the Government set up a full independent inquiry into British involvement with the US practice of 'extraordinary rendition'.

Edward Davey, the party's Shadow Foreign Secretary, proposed the emergency motion, which was given an overwhelming endorsement by conference representatives.

The motion condemns extraordinary rendition as amounting 'to abduction or kidnap which is illegal under international law.'

It follows the Foreign Secretary's recent statement to the House of Commons that in 2002 two US rendition flights carrying terror suspects landed at the US military air base at Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

The party is urging the Government to continue to demand further evidence from the United States authorities on allegations concerning other flights that have been involved in rendition of any form.

The full text of the emergency motion passed by the conference is -

Conference notes:

i) The Foreign Secretary's statement to the House of Commons on February 21 2008 that in 2002 two US rendition flights carrying terror suspects landed at the US military air base at Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory.

ii) The Foreign Secretary's admission that Written Parliamentary Answers to Sir Menzies Campbell that denied any such flights taking place were incorrect.

iii) Reports from Manfred Novak, the United Nations' special rapporteur on torture, that there is credible evidence that detainees were held on Diego Garcia between 2002 and 2003.

iv) Allegations that the US has held prisoners on ships operating outside Britain's territorial waters but serviced by craft from the atoll.

v) That extraordinary rendition amounts to abduction or kidnap which is illegal under international law.

vi) That the practice of extraordinary rendition is often associated with allegations of torture, which is prohibited under international law.

Conference therefore calls on:

1. The Government to set up a full independent inquiry into British involvement with the US practice of rendition in any form and into the use of Diego Garcia for this practice by the United States.

2. The Government to continue to demand further evidence from the United States authorities on allegations concerning other flights that have been involved in rendition of any form.