The UN investigation into torture and rendition across the globe since 9/11 lasted several years and was led by Martin Scheinin, UN special rapporteur on terrorism and human rights, and Manfred Nowak, special rapporteur on torture. In a move that will do little to ease the discomfort of western governments that were the focus of the investigation, the two men and their aides were assisted by members of a UN working party on secret detentions that was first set up in 1979 to investigate the fate of people who were "disappeared" by the Pinochet regime in Chile.
Their report concludes that secret detention "amounts to a case of enforced disappearance" and that it is "a manifold human rights violation that cannot be justified under any circumstances, including during states of emergency".
Lord Goldsmith is currently giving evidence to the Iraq enquiry. Don't worry, you'll get your chance to arrest Blair on Friday. Much of the debate is round the legality of the war waged on Iraq. There is much to be made of the wheedling that the government performed over legality, the war was, after all, a blatant aggression.
The trouble is law is a synonym for power. Those of you wanting to arrest Blair on Friday will have to wade through several lines of armed police and secret servicemen. Good luck.
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