Mr Belhadj is one of Libya’s most battle-hardened dissidents, leading the
Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, which waged several rebellions against Col
Gaddafi until it was routed in 1998. But the group was seen in the West as
an affiliate of al Qaeda, a charge it always denied.
In 2004, Mr Belhadj was arrested at Kuala Lumpur airport before allegedly
being flown back to Libya on a secret “rendition” flight operated
by the CIA. Held at the notorious Abu Salim prison for seven years, he says
he was repeatedly tortured while in custody.
On the basis of documents found among the Gaddafi regime’s records he has
accused Britain of authorising his seizure.
Last month he began formal legal action against Jack Straw, the former Foreign
Secretary, who he accuses of signing off on his rendition. He is also
bringing a civil suit against the Foreign Office and MI6 and has pledged to
pursue Tony Blair, the prime minister at the time, through Britain’s courts.
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