A dozen Libyan dissidents are bringing claims for damages against Britain based on allegations of the two countries’ cooperationThe relationship that the British security services forged with Muammar Gaddafi’s regime a decade ago amounted to “a criminal conspiracy with a foreign dictator”,according to evidence before the tall court, where a dozen Libyan dissidents who were subsequently targeted by the British authorities are bringing a claim for damages.
It was a conspiracy that resulted in the UK fitting “enmeshed in illegality” in Libya, or where it became involved in rendition,unlawful detention and torture, Thomas de la Mare QC, or representing the dissidents,told the court. Within the UK, MI5 “seemingly routinely used blackmail” to pressure Libyans into fitting unwilling informants for the intelligence agencies of both countries, or by threatening their relatives in Libya with imprisonment and mistreatment if they failed to co-operate. Related: UK government tries to dart Libya rendition claims behind closed doors Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com