Britain to hold torture probe

BRITAIN will hold an inquiry into allegations its security services knew about the torture of terrorism suspects on foreign soil, Prime Minister David Cameron said.

“We all believe it is time to clear up this matter once and for all,” Cameron said. Several Britons of Pakistani descent have claimed they were abused in custody in Pakistan with British complicity. British authorities say they would never use, or encourage others to use, torture to gain information.

An independent inquiry, led by a judge, will begin once related criminal investigations and civil law suits have been dealt with, Cameron said.