Release Binyam torture data - (British) MP

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

The US government should urgently release details about the treatment of a British resident who alleges he was tortured, a senior Labour MP has said. Mike Gapes, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said America must reveal information about former Guantanamo Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed. Mr Mohamed, who arrived back in the UK on Monday, claims he was tortured by US agents who suspected him of terrorism. Mr Gapes said any UK involvement would be "a serious stain" on the government.

Mr Mohamed, 30, flew to Britain after being released from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba where he had spent more than four years. The US authorities had accused him of involvement in a plot to detonate a "dirty bomb" on American soil, but the charges were dropped last October.

Ethiopian-born Mr Mohamed claims he was tortured into falsely confessing to terrorism and alleges UK MI5 officers were complicit in his abuse. The UK attorney general is currently consulting the director of public prosecutions over whether to order a criminal investigation into the claims.

Mr Gapes told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the British government should be congratulated for working to secure Mr Mohamed's release. But he said there must now be greater openness about his case to prevent long-term damage to the government and in particular, the reputation of the Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7907129.stm