Greeks name MI6 chief over 'torture of terror suspects'

[cal04]

THE Government tried last night to block the naming of an MI6 officer alleged to have orchestrated the torture of terrorist suspects in Greece. It issued a warning to media organisations after a leading Athens newspaper identified the British intelligence officer and 15 Greek agents, alleging that they took part in the arrest and abuse of 28 Pakistan-born detainees who were held in connection with the July 7 bombings in London.

The disclosures sparked a row in Athens, with opposition leaders and human rights groups demanding to know why British agents were allowed to operate in Greece. There are mounting calls for a parliamentary investigation, and George Voulgarakis, the Public Order Minister, faced demands last night to appear before the parliament.

Proto Thema named the British official as the MI6 station chief in Athens. It said that he and a second, unnamed, British agent took part in the interrogation of some suspects, who said that they were hooded and held in secret. One of the migrant workers claims to have had a gun forced into his mouth.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office last night refused to confirm or deny whether the person named in the Greek press works at the British Embassy in Athens. British ministers have until now denied that British officials played any part in this counter-terror operation, which allegedly took place days after the July attacks on three Tube trains and a bus in which 52 passengers died. Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told MPs last week that the reports were “complete nonsense”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1959731,00.html

[orleans]

1. "British ministers have until now denied that British officials played

any part in this counter-terror operation"

oops.

i believe it's called "spilling the beans" or "letting the cat out of the bag."

MEOW!

[emad]

2. Greek newspaper names 'MI6 chief'

A Greek newspaper has published what it says is the name of a British spy chief who was involved in the abduction and mistreatment of 28 Pakistani migrants.

Proto Thema said the name was that of a diplomat who was the Athens chief of Britain's intelligence service MI6.

It also named 15 Greek agents who it says were involved in the operation, which allegedly took place after the 7 July bombings in London.

The Greek intelligence agency said it deplored the naming of the officers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4561720.stm

[emad]

3. "involved in abduction & mistreatment of 28 Pakistani migrants"

Maybe chum of:

"22 CIA agents accused of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric from Milan and flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured"

"The wanted men include the alleged head of the CIA Milan sub-station, identified as Robert Seldon Lady, who retired to a villa in northern Italy but slipped out of the country before arrest warrants were issued in July."

See:



Italian court issues arrest warrant for CIA agents
By Anton La Guardia, Diplomatic Editor
(Filed: 24/12/2005)

An Italian court yesterday issued a Europe-wide arrest warrant for 22 CIA agents accused of kidnapping an Egyptian cleric from Milan and flying him to Egypt, where he says he was tortured.

The move raises the stakes in the dispute between Europe and America over the CIA's controversial policy of "extraordinary rendition".


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/12/24/wcia24.xml&sSheet=/portal/2005/12/24/ixportal.html

[MrPrax]

4. Gagged...

Media gagged over spy torture claim

The Government has gagged the media to stop them revealing the identity of a British spy reported to have helped torture terror suspects held in Greece.

A leading Greek paper has named a man it claims is the MI6 station chief in Athens.

He and another British official are alleged to have helped the Greek authorities arrest and then interrogate 28 Pakistani-born detainees seized in connection with the July 7 London bombings.

http://headlines.virgin.net/story/HHH/A552681135692746A0

I can understand the 'gag' order in the UK--but it seems most of the English speaking press is following 'courtesys' as well...

The Greeks also exposed Richard Welsh, the CIA station chief.

Good for them...good to see that some folks aren't so squimish about 'outing' foreign spies

[emad]

5. Times story on gagging:

Greeks name MI6 chief over 'torture of terror suspects'
From John Carr in Athens and Daniel McGrory



THE Government tried last night to block the naming of an MI6 officer alleged to have orchestrated the torture of terrorist suspects in Greece.
It issued a warning to media organisations after a leading Athens newspaper identified the British intelligence officer and 15 Greek agents, alleging that they took part in the arrest and abuse of 28 Pakistan-born detainees who were held in connection with the July 7 bombings in London.
------------------

Proto Thema named the British official as the MI6 station chief in Athens. It said that he and a second, unnamed, British agent took part in the interrogation of some suspects, who said that they were hooded and held in secret. One of the migrant workers claims to have had a gun forced into his mouth.
----------------------------------------
Makis Triantafyllopoulos, publisher of Proto Thema, said last night: “The Greek and British governments have been lying from the start.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22989-1959731,00.html