Libyan sues over UK role in rendition

The Commissioner for the British Indian Ocean Territory is being sued for complicity in the alleged rendition and torture of a Libyan rebel who is now head of the Tripoli Military Council.

Law firm Leigh Day & Co has announced that it had filed legal papers against the commissioner in the High Court on behalf of Abdel Hakim Belhadj, who says he was rendered to Libya via British-controlled Diego Garcia in 2004.

Mr Belhadj, hailed for his role in the uprising against Col Gaddafi, is already suing the UK government, its security forces and Sir Mark Allen, a former director of counter-terrorism at MI6.

The Libyan claims evidence of the UK’s role in the alleged rendition of him and his wife, Fatima Bouchar, is detailed in a number of documents held by the Libyan security services. The action is being taken against the commissioner’s office.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “A police investigation is under way, so we are unable to comment.