.bmp)
.bmp)
The rules that determine how MI5 and MI6 are allowed to interrogate suspects, including strict guidance banning the use of torture, will be published for the first time, Gordon Brown said today.The prime minister also announced that he has asked the intelligence and security committee to review "any developments and relevant information" following allegations that British intelligence officers were involved in the torture of Binyam Mohamed and other terror suspects.In a statement to parliament, Brown said that he was taking these steps "to protect the reputation of our security and intelligence services" and that Britain condemned torture "without reservation".He said:"Torture has no place in a modern democratic society. We will not condone it. Nor will we ever ask others to do it on our behalf."Last week Brown was put onto the defensive at prime minister's questions in the Commons when David Cameron demanded a full inquiry into allegations about the involvement of British intelligence officers in the torture of terror suspects subject to "extraordinary rendition" process by the Americans.Brown resisted the demand last week,although this morning's announcement-made in the form of a ministerial statement-goes some way towards meeting the concerns raised by the Tory leader.The guidance followed by MI5 and MI6 officers will be published within the next two month. Brown said it would cover "the standards that we apply during the detention and interviewing of detainees overseas" and that it would be released "once it has been consolidated and reviewed by the intelligence and security committee".He explained: "It is right that parliament and the public should know what those involved in interviewing detainees can and cannot do. This will put beyond doubt the terms under which our agencies and service personnel operate."Brown also said that Sir Peter Gibson, the intelligence services commissioner and former appeal court judge, would monitor "compliance with the guidance" and report to the prime minister annually on his findings.When asked if Brown's decision to publish the guidance was an admission about the complicity of intelligence officials in torture in the past, the prime minister's spokesman replied: "Not at all." The spokesman said the guidance was being published so that in future intelligence officials would operate "under a great degree of transparency".In his statement Brown said: "Our security and intelligence services and armed forces do an outstanding job.They take significant personal risks to make Britain more secure and operate across the world in circumstances they do not control. We are all safer today because of the work they do with integrity and bravery."He also confirmed that allegations about torture in the Mohamed case are being investigated by Lady Scotland, the attorney general.By Andrew Sparrow
As in the days of Noah...
