Cameron Launches inQuiry on Alleged Torture by British Intelligence Agents

British Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday announced an investigation into allegations that British intelligence officers colluded with other security forces, including the CIA in the torture of terror suspects. Cameron said the government could detainees who have been granted to other countries and were victims of abuse to compensate.
Former Senior Judge Peter Gibson will lead the probe, which is expected to start by the end of the year and to report within 12 months. Cameron said the investigation would examine whether British intelligence agents were involved in "improper treatment of detainees by other countries in the overseas activities of counterterrorism, or were aware of improper treatment of prisoners in operations involving the United Kingdom was involved .
The prime minister promised the review during this year's election campaign, said that it was necessary to the uncertainty surrounding the role of land in the supposed end to torture of British citizens since September 11, 2001, attacks.
Several former detainees at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, are suing the British government for compensation over his alleged involvement in their treatment and detention. Other detainees have said they were made to prisons in places like Pakistan and Morocco and were then tortured. "The longer these questions remain unanswered, the greater the stain on our reputation as a country that believes in freedom, justice and human rights is growing," Cameron said in a speech to Parliament.
The decision to deploy elements of the investigation in secret anger human rights groups to hold. "This research is welcome but the devil is in the detail: The idea that this study should be heard in private, misguided and wrong," said Clive Stafford Smith, lawyer of human rights group Reprieve.
But Cameron said that complete transparency is not possible and that intelligence officers would be allowed to testify behind closed doors.
The British prime minister was careful not to say anything Tuesday that his government's relations with Washington could be damaged.
He said the report, the "concerns of our allies to address," and emphasized the importance of "the great two-way benefit from this US-UK relationship has brought in disrupting terrorist plots and saving lives. "