Government to blame for Britons in Guantanamo - Liz Lynne

5.45.15pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 28th Mar 2006

The government must take responsibility for two Britons now in Guantanamo Bay, Liz Lynne, Lib Dem MEP for the West Midlands and a member of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights, said today.

According to media reports, telegrams sent by the British security services led to the extraordinary rendition of two UK residents now held in the detention camp. Bisher al-Rawi and Jamil al-Banna were arrested in 2002 in Gambia.

The UK government has always said it opposes extraordinary rendition, whereby terror suspects are flown to another country for interrogation.

Speaking in Brussels today, Liz Lynne said:

"What exactly did MI5 expect the CIA to do when MI5 handed them the names and flight details of two men they had previously arrested for possession of a suspicious device?"

"Either MI5 is completely incompetent, or they are playing fast and loose in engineering this situation while attempting to dissolve themselves of responsibility. In either scenario, we owe a duty to these men having put them in this situation."

"If the Government genuinely opposes rendition then they should be doing their utmost to have them released from Guantanamo Bay and grant them access to a fair trial and due process."

"By behaving this way, we are merely playing into the hands of those who preach a message of division and hate."

ENDS