British reaction: Prime minister Tony Blair dismissed the Council of Europe report on the CIA's rendition, claiming it adds nothing new to allegations of British complicity.
However, he faced a warning from senior Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie that "the truth is going to come out" about the UK's alleged logistical and intelligence support for an alleged American operation which constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman acknowledged yesterday would be in breach of British criminal law.
Confirming he had asked parliament's security and intelligence committee to conduct its own investigation, Mr Tyrie told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme, "It's important to remember we are a democracy, the truth is going to come out."
Questioning the "taciturn" response of Mr Blair and other ministers, Mr Tyrie said instead of forthright condemnation from the government, people instead heard "mealy-mouthed attempts to avoid saying anything at all". Mr Blair stuck to his previous formula and said nothing new when challenged during prime minister's questions by Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell.
Following Dick Marty's claims about the handling of intelligence information on a number of foreign citizens long-resident in the UK, which he said led to their rendition and torture, Sir Menzies asked Mr Blair to confirm "that the UK has given no logistical support for rendition to the CIA, nor provided any information to be used in torture".
Mr Blair replied: "We have said absolutely all we have to say on this . . . The Council of Europe report adds absolutely nothing new to the information we have."
Sir Menzies persisted, telling Mr Blair, "I think you might find reading of the report useful. It says that rendition involves disappearances, it involves secret detention, it involves unlawful transfers to countries that practise torture. On December 7th you told the House that you fully endorsed rendition. Do you still do so now?"
The prime minister countered, "I think what I actually said was that rendition had been the policy of the American government for a long period of time, including under the last [ Clinton] administration as well as this [ Bush] administration."
He added: "We have kept parliament informed of all requests we were aware of - four in 1998, two of which were granted, two declined. As for the rest of what is in the Council of Europe report, it concerns other countries - and, obviously, I am not in a position to speak about them."