Post by Moses on Dec 27, 2005 18:15:38 GMT -5
MI6 Agent Named In Torture Scandal, Media Gagged
Submitted by editor on December 27, 2005 - 1:01pm.
By John Carr and Daniel McGrory
Source: The Australian
The British Government has tried to block the naming of a spy alleged to have orchestrated the torture of London bombing suspects in Greece.
The Government issued a warning to media organisations yesterday after a leading Greek newspaper identified the MI6 officer and 15 Greek agents, alleging they took part in the arrest and abuse of 28 Pakistan-born detainees arrested in connection with the July7 bombings in London.
The disclosures sparked a row in Athens, with opposition leaders and human rights groups demanding to know why British agents had been allowed to operate in Greece.
There are calls for a parliamentary investigation of the scandal and Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis is facing demands to appear before parliament to answer the allegations.
The newspaper Proto Thema named the British officer as the MI6 station chief in Athens. It said he and another British agent took part in the interrogation of some suspects, who said they had been blindfolded and held in secret. One claims to have had a gun forced into his mouth.
The British Foreign Office refused yesterday to confirm or deny whether the man named in the Greek reports worked at the British embassy in Athens.
British ministers have denied the nation's officials played any part in the operation, said to have taken place after the bomb attacks on three Tube trains and a bus in which 52 passengers died. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told MPs last week the reports were "complete nonsense".
Mr Voulgarakis condemned the naming of Greek intelligence officers as "illegal and endangering the safety of our agents in the field". He said two of the named agents had been withdrawn from postings in Kosovo.
When the allegations first emerged a fortnight ago, Mr Voulgarakis denied the arrests had taken place.
But the detainees, all migrant workers, said they were questioned by British investigators about mobile telephone calls linked to the four suicide bombers. They said they were also asked about calls to a suspect in Pakistan, who British officials reportedly wanted to question about the London attacks.
If the Greek Government bows to demands for an investigation, British ministers may have to defend the behaviour of MI6 agents abroad.
Makis Triantafyllopoulos, publisher of Proto Thema, said last night: "The Greek and British governments have been lying from the start."
Some detainees have given evidence to a magistrate about their mistreatment. One, Mohammed Munir, claims he was held in secret for six days and "hit very hard on the head".
Mr Munir and others said they were sure those questioning them were British, yet all spoke fluent Greek. They said "a black British case officer" took part in their interrogation.
Most of the 28 Pakistanis are still too frightened to complain about their treatment, saying they were threatened by the British officers that their families in Pakistan and Britain would suffer if they said anything.
Those who have been persuaded by Pakistani community leaders to give evidence say they were seized at their homes at night, hooded and driven to secret locations. Some were reportedly held at EYP, the headquarters of Greek intelligence.
Submitted by editor on December 27, 2005 - 1:01pm.
By John Carr and Daniel McGrory
Source: The Australian
The British Government has tried to block the naming of a spy alleged to have orchestrated the torture of London bombing suspects in Greece.
The Government issued a warning to media organisations yesterday after a leading Greek newspaper identified the MI6 officer and 15 Greek agents, alleging they took part in the arrest and abuse of 28 Pakistan-born detainees arrested in connection with the July7 bombings in London.
The disclosures sparked a row in Athens, with opposition leaders and human rights groups demanding to know why British agents had been allowed to operate in Greece.
There are calls for a parliamentary investigation of the scandal and Public Order Minister George Voulgarakis is facing demands to appear before parliament to answer the allegations.
The newspaper Proto Thema named the British officer as the MI6 station chief in Athens. It said he and another British agent took part in the interrogation of some suspects, who said they had been blindfolded and held in secret. One claims to have had a gun forced into his mouth.
The British Foreign Office refused yesterday to confirm or deny whether the man named in the Greek reports worked at the British embassy in Athens.
British ministers have denied the nation's officials played any part in the operation, said to have taken place after the bomb attacks on three Tube trains and a bus in which 52 passengers died. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told MPs last week the reports were "complete nonsense".
Mr Voulgarakis condemned the naming of Greek intelligence officers as "illegal and endangering the safety of our agents in the field". He said two of the named agents had been withdrawn from postings in Kosovo.
When the allegations first emerged a fortnight ago, Mr Voulgarakis denied the arrests had taken place.
But the detainees, all migrant workers, said they were questioned by British investigators about mobile telephone calls linked to the four suicide bombers. They said they were also asked about calls to a suspect in Pakistan, who British officials reportedly wanted to question about the London attacks.
If the Greek Government bows to demands for an investigation, British ministers may have to defend the behaviour of MI6 agents abroad.
Makis Triantafyllopoulos, publisher of Proto Thema, said last night: "The Greek and British governments have been lying from the start."
Some detainees have given evidence to a magistrate about their mistreatment. One, Mohammed Munir, claims he was held in secret for six days and "hit very hard on the head".
Mr Munir and others said they were sure those questioning them were British, yet all spoke fluent Greek. They said "a black British case officer" took part in their interrogation.
Most of the 28 Pakistanis are still too frightened to complain about their treatment, saying they were threatened by the British officers that their families in Pakistan and Britain would suffer if they said anything.
Those who have been persuaded by Pakistani community leaders to give evidence say they were seized at their homes at night, hooded and driven to secret locations. Some were reportedly held at EYP, the headquarters of Greek intelligence.