Habib's lying about torture, claims Ruddock

Sydney Morning Herald ^ | February 14, 2005 | AAP

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Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib's claim that an Australian official stood by while he was being tortured in Pakistan was untrue, federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said today.

In a paid interview with the Nine Network's 60 Minutes last night, Mr Habib claimed that shortly after he was arrested in 2001 an Australian official visited him at a military airport in Pakistan and watched as he was tortured.

"In part, the information that he provided conflicts with information I have received from departmental officials," Mr Ruddock told Channel Nine.

"The information suggests that it was an Australian official from the Department of Foreign Affairs present when he was tortured in Pakistan, or claims to be tortured in Pakistan.

"(That is) on the advice I have received, untrue."

Mr Ruddock said he would nevertheless look into whether there was anything new in the allegations.

But he claimed it was significant Mr Habib did not deny training with al-Qaeda. AdvertisementAdvertisement

"The other matter that I think is new, is that the only claims I've ever made were that he was in Afghanistan and was believed, on advice from others that were there, that he trained with al-Qaeda," Mr Ruddock said.

"They are matters that last night he declined to reject outright and said that he might speak to a judge about.

"That is new information because his representatives have always previously denied that he was in Afghanistan."

Mr Ruddock said Mr Habib could still face Australian charges over alleged past associations with terror groups.

"His time in Afghanistan and his possible training, and time in Pakistan and possible training, might give rise to possible charges, if the training with terrorist organisations was an offence at that time," he said.

Mr Ruddock later told Sky News a tape of Mr Habib's interview would be passed on to US authorities to use in their investigation of torture claims made by the former Guantanamo Bay detainee.

Every US official who came into contact with Mr Habib at Guantanamo Bay was interviewed during the investigation, but Washington was yet to report, he said.

"We have put to the United States the claims that Mr Habib's counsel had made, we've been told by the United States that their investigation, initially, had found no torture," he said.

"I will ask my officials to bring to the United States' attention the interview on the television program last night. If there is any further information which hasn't been made public before or claimed (the tape will ensure) it is taken into account."

An earlier Pentagon inquiry into claims that David Hicks, the other Australian being held at Guantanamo Bay, and Mr Habib were tortured found that they had not been.

AAP

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Habib's accusations get full front page approving treatment in today's New York Times.

The AQ types now know that any lies they tell about treatment will be accepted by their friends in the MSM.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

al Jazzera's version:
Habib told Channel Nine he had been in Pakistan to look for schools for his children because he had decided to leave Australia after being followed by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) for two years before 2001.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E3B67B35-B280-4DFD-B8F2-085268BB8766.htm

MAMDOUH Habib falsely confessed to training September 11 terrorists, transporting chemicals in Afghanistan and fighting in Chechnya, under the duress of being tortured by the US military, he claimed last night.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,12236002-2,00.html

looks like the Aussies had him pegged even before he left Australia

[RegT]

As I wrote in a post last night, this guy needs to be debunked thoroughly and immediately by the government. This got passed around all the lefty blogs today, and was as you said on the front page of the Sunday NYT.

Unless he is proven to be liar, all further accusations of torture from released detainees will get the same attention, and 2005 will be a very painful year.

I hope that people in the WH and DOD realize what's at stake here.

[river rat]

An Arab islamist lying....NO!! I'm shocked.....

Hell, folks - get used to it....the bastards have been lying to themselves for centuries..

Semper Fi