Libyan military commander takes legal action against Jack Straw over rendition

ABDEL Hakim Belhadj, a Libyan military commander, is taking legal action against Jack Straw following allegations the former foreign secretary personally permitted his illegal rendition in 2004.

Lawyers representing Mr Belhadj confirmed legal papers had been served on the Labour MP after reports suggested he had signed documents that allowed the rebel to be sent back to his homeland.

Mr Belhadj, 45, claims he had been living in exile in Beijing, China, before being detained with his wife Fatima while en route to the UK where they were trying to seek asylum.

He alleges they were sent back to Libya - which was under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi - and imprisoned and tortured.

The civil action, which is against Mr Straw personally, seeks to examine his exact role in the rendition and claim damages from him for the trauma involved.

Mr Belhadj’s lawyers Leigh Day & Co said they sent the MP a letter yesterday asking him to produce a number of documents.

They include papers mentioned in a Sunday Times article which alleged that Mr Straw signed off the rendition, as well as his diaries, memoirs and notes from March 2004 onwards.

Sami Al Saadi, who claims to have shared the same fate as fellow Libyan and Gaddafi opponent Mr Belhadj, is also taking legal action against Mr Straw.