Abducted Libyan can sue, British court rules

LONDON, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- A Libyan politician, who claims he was tortured after he was handed over by Western officials, can sue for damages, a British court ruled.

Abdel Hakim Belhaj was imprisoned and tortured under Libya's Gadhafi regime, and claims Britain conspired with the U.S. CIA in his rendition to Libya. Thursday the United Kingdom Court of Appeals said he can sue the U.K. for damages.

A long-standing enemy of Moammar Gadhafi and currently the leader of the Libyan al-Watan political party, Balhaj and his wife were secretly flown to Tripoli, Libya, where he was allegedly tortured with the involvement of British intelligence officers.

The court allowed the case to proceed despite government attempts to cast it on grounds of "state doctrine," arguing the court could not inquire into a matter involving a foreign state. The case could initiate similar legal action against the British government in other examples of rendition or torture.

Speaking in Tripoli, Belhaj said he would seek only an apology from the British government and nominal damages of one pound ($1.59).

"I'm not interested in taking revenge for the past. I want to build relations with the U.K. afresh. It's natural for people to want to have justice to right their wrongs. We are very thankful for the way the British stood by us when we rid ourselves of the regime of Gadhafi. My faith in British justice has been restored."