OTTAWA, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Syria's ambassador to Canada denies claims that a Canadian software engineer was tortured during a year's detention.
Ambassador Jamil Sakr called a report on the case of Maher Arar "some kind of lawyer's game," suggesting it was aimed at helping Arar claim compensation, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported.
Arar, a Canadian citizen and software engineer, was deported from the United States to Syria. A report by an independent fact-finder concluded that he and three other Canadian Muslims had been subjected to torture.
Sakr said Syria has been trying to help the United States and Canada in the fight against terrorism and suggested the United States had information from Canadian authorities showing Arar to have links to groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew gave Sakr a note of protest Friday. Sakr said the report would be sent to his government but he said a response might be delayed by the Muslim holiday of Ramadan.
