Libyan in deal bid to settle legal case with Jack Straw
4:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By Sophia Rahman, Reporter
A LIBYAN politician suing Jack Straw MP for damages, amid claims a tip-off led to him being kidnapped and tortured, has said he will drop his case against the former Foreign Secretary for £1, an apology, and an admission of liability.
Abdel Hakim Belhaj, a leader in the rebel forces before dictator Muammar Gaddafi was killed, is also taking legal action against the government and Sir Mark Allen, former head of counter-terrorism at MI6.
He said he was willing to make the same deal with them.
In 2004, Mr Belhaj was leader of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, opposing the dictator, when he and his wife were detained by American intelligence officers at Bangkok airport in Thailand.
He was allegedly tortured for several days while his wife, Fatima Boudchar, who was five months' pregnant, was chained to a wall at a secret prison at the airport.
It is claimed British intelligence was responsible for a tip-off that led to their capture. Mr Straw said yesterday that he was unable to comment for legal reasons.
In a letter sent to Mr Straw, David Cameron and Sir Mark, Mr Belhaj said: “I am making an open offer to settle our litigation.
“My wife and I are willing to end our case against the UK government and Messrs Straw and Allen, in exchange for a token compensation of a British pound from each defendant, an apology and an admission of liability for what was done to us. We have come to court in Britain because we believe your courts can deliver justice.”
Reprieve legal director Cori Crider said: “It is time to put the ghosts of Tony Blair’s toxic ‘deal in the desert’ with Gaddafi to rest, and this is the perfect opportunity for David Cameron to do so. The next time the Government repeats its mantra that secret courts will save the public purse, remember this family was willing to walk away for £3.”
Comments(7)
happycyclist
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6:22pm Tue 5 Mar 13
tim otay71
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10:44pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Good call
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11:18pm Tue 5 Mar 13
district01
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11:11am Wed 6 Mar 13
The conduct of Tony Blair is very slowly being noticed for what it was. There is soon to be a detailed investigation as to the truth regarding the reason for the invasion of Iraq. Was there really any ‘weapons of mass destruction’ that Tony Blair and Jack Straw gave as the reason for the invasion that caused unknown deaths of innocent women, children and family members. If just one pound was given in compensation for each of those effected by the ‘weapons of mass destruction’ then the now very wealthy Tony Blair and Jack Straw would now be broke!
Tony Blair. The reason for the downfall of what was a Labour party. All that‘s now left are his hangers on trying to forget the past!
Jack Herer
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4:15pm Wed 6 Mar 13
Good call wrote:I'd choose a different user name if I was you, because you appear to be a moron.
See, torture and murder is good when the west does it, but when Assad in Syria does it, he is an evil dictator who needs to be overthrown.A few years back , it came out that PSNI officers were being sent to train Lybian police officers,you couldn't make it up could you.
First, torture and murder isn't good when the West does it. Tony Blair's actions in Iraq were shameless, along with a whole host of other things he did. It created a far worse situation than before, and makes doing the right thing, far far harder than it would be if he'd not been such a bellend.
Second, in Syria, Assad is killing his own people in droves. Kids, mums, the lot. Torture, missiles, weapons of mass destruction, the lot. Today the number of refugees passed 1,000,000. A city was liberated on Monday, crowds came out to celebrate; Assad bombed and killed them for it.
But you are saying somehow that Assad isn't an evil dictator? Do you think he is just misunderstood? Was Hitler too?
Like I say, you should consider a name change.
Jack Herer
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4:26pm Wed 6 Mar 13
I see even today, on Syria, they are calling for more diplomacy. How much longer than two years is needed to stop a dictator bombing his own kids?
I honestly think Labour's policy is to just disagree with what the others are saying. They have no policy beyond that.
Clueless, and of course shameless.
phil kernot says...
5:48pm Tue 5 Mar 13