Blair 'knew of torture allegations in 2002'

Lawyers claim secret Government documents show Tony Blair knew as early as January 2002 of allegations of torture involving UK nationals held in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay. 

A letter from the Foreign Office to the Prime Minister's Office, publicly revealed for the first time today, carries handwritten comments that appear to come from Mr Blair, say solicitors acting for former Guantanamo detainees. 

The US detention centre for terror suspects in Cuba was opened on January 11 2002, just days before the letter was sent on January 18. 

Six detainees, including Bisher Al Rawi and Binyam Mohammed, are suing the Government over its alleged complicity in their ill treatment. 

The letter came to light following a High Court judge's order last July that any documents held by Government departments and the security services on the issue should be disclosed for the legal proceedings, unless disclosure endangered national security.

 The letter is entitled "UK Nationals Held in Afghanistan and Guantanamo" and has one whole paragraph redacted. 

It was sent by the Foreign Office in response to a request from Downing Street for "a round-up of the latest position". It included a chart listing detainees who might be British. 

The person to whom the letter is addressed is blanked out in the released copy, but lawyers for the former detainees say a hand-written comment at the bottom of the letter appears to come from Mr Blair.

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