UK £2m Libya rendition payout

Another alleged victim of illegal rendition, the Libyan military commander Abdul Hakim Belhaj, has said supports Mr al Saadi's decision to reach a settlement. He said:

"I understand and support his [Sami al Saadi's] decision to provide his family with security, pay for his medical care, and support other victims of torture.

"I intend to fight to ensure the truth is told. I have said before, and I say again now, my wife and I will not allow the truth to be concealed."

"We look forward to giving evidence at trial, and seeing those responsible for our torture and that of Sami and his family held to account."

Sapna Malik, of the human rights team representing the al Saadi family, said today:

Here is a summary of what is known about the rendition and legal battle of Sami al Saadi and his family:

• Mr al Saadi and his family were put on a plane in Hong Kong and taken to Libya where they were imprisoned in 2004.
• Mr al Saadi was held and tortured for a number of years, including spending 14 months in solitary confinement.

• Following the fall of Colonel Gaddafi's regime in 2011, documents found in a Government building pointed at British and American involvement in the rendition.

Sami al Saadi, the Libyan dissident who the Government has agreed to pay over his rendition, says he still doesn't know the truth. He said:

The Government has agreed to pay more than £2 million to the family of a Libyan dissident after accepting its role in his illegal rendition, his legal team said today.

Sami al Saadi, a leading Gaddafi opponent, was imprisoned and tortured after he was forced to board a plane back to Tripoli along with his wife and four children in 2004.

Ministers are now understood to have offered him a sum of £2.2 million for its role in the joint UK-US-Libyan operation, but the Government has not admitted liability, Mr al Saadi said.