US spoke to ASIO on Mamdouh Habib rendition to Egypt

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Source: The Australian

THE US Government told the head of Australia's spy agency ASIO that it wanted to render Mamdouh Habib to Egypt for questioning, but the then ASIO chief, Dennis Richardson, has never publicly admitted the official approach was made.

The startling revelations come from his successor, Paul O'Sullivan, who said Mr Richardson was told about the rendition plan by a US government official weeks before the Sydney father of four was "kidnapped" and sent to Egypt, where prisoners are known to be tortured.

This contradicts the Howard government's claims it had no knowledge of Mr Habib's rendition until after he had been transferred to Egypt.

Mr Richardson, who was questioned in Senate estimates hearings about his knowledge of Mr Habib's rendition to Egypt, has never admitted the US had told him of the possibility or that he had told the US that Australia would not condone it.

Read more: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23934537-601,00.html