No reassurance on 'renditions'

BRITAIN and the United States are both party to the UN Convention Against Torture. The convention outlaws physical and mental torture and binds every state to take active measures to investigate any act of torture (or complicity in such an act) involving its own territories.

Yesterday, the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, tried to address mounting unease regarding the use of British airports - including Glasgow and Edinburgh - by aircraft of the CIA. These are alleged to have been carrying suspected terrorists en route to possible torture in territories formally outside US jurisdiction - a process otherwise known as "extraordinary rendition". But Mr Straw's carefully chosen words failed to reassure anyone. He said there are no records of the US asking the UK for permission to use its airports to move CIA terror suspects. However, as Mr Straw well knows, just because the United States authorities have not requested formal permission (as they have in the past) does not mean renditions are not taking place. Mr Straw can only be satisfied if he has the planes checked.

No-one denies that the West faces a fanatical enemy, but torture is always wrong and can never be the solution. The Foreign Secretary will have to do better.