No alternative now but for a full rendition inquiry

6.50.00pm GMT Mon 25th Feb 2008

Prisoners held in Guantanamo Bay

David Miliband has admitted two US "extraordinary rendition" flights landed on UK territory in 2002 contra to what had been reported to parliament previously.

The foreign secretary said in both cases US planes refuelled on the UK dependent territory of Diego Garcia. He said he was "very sorry" to have to say that previous denials made in "good faith" were now having to be corrected. Former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and former Prime Minister Tony Blair made statements in 2005, 2006 and 2007 saying there was no evidence that rendition flights had stopped on UK territory.

Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said "It appears that the British government has been left completely in the dark over controversial US activities on British territory. Remaining questions over the use of torture such as water-boarding continue to undermine the fight against terrorism. This case may just be the tip of the iceberg. There is no alternative now but for a full inquiry into UK involvement in rendition flights."