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David Shayler claims that the UK
Government's secret intelligence service tried to assassinate Colonel Muammar Gaddafi -
something which the Libyan leader has supported.
'Britain was behind this attempted assassination,' he told the BBC's world
editor John Simpson in Tripoli.
Mr Shayler was arrested in Paris on 1 August at the request of the British authorities
before he could publicise more detailed revelations about a bungled MI6 mission to kill
Col Gaddafi.
When asked if Mr Shayler's allegations about him were true, Col Gadaffi said: 'Of course
it is true. And it happened against me. Yes, yes, it has happened, of course.'
Col Gaddafi said he has proof that Britain tried to assassinate him. 'There are many
evidences,' he said. 'And when the time comes we will bring this evidence.'
The UK Government strongly denies Mr Shayler's allegations and wants him extradited to
Britain and tried under the Official Secrets Act.
WATCHDOG TO INVESTIGATE WHISTLE-BLOWER ALLEGATIONS
An independent watchdog is to investigate allegations of secret
service wrongdoings made by MI5 'whistle blower' David Shayler.
The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, announced plans for the appointment yesterday as
Mr Shayler faced a 90-minute extradition hearing in a Paris court - for blowing the
whistle himself.
A parliamentary intelligence and security committee has also requested greater powers.
Currently it is able to examine management systems within the secret service. But it
cannot look at operational matters, such as the allegations by Mr Shayler that a bungled
attempt by MI6 to assassinate the Libyan leader Colonel Gadaffi resulted in the deaths of
innocent civilians, and that members of the Royal Family were bugged by MI5.
Oversight Committee chairman Tom King MP called the move to appoint an independent
spywatcher a good thing for the population and the services.
Mr Shayler's partner and another former MI5 agent, Guernseywoman Annie Machon, were also
arrested for breaching the Official Secrets Act, though she was subsequently released.
She was in Paris with Mr Shayler for the hearing, which was adjourned until 18 November
when it will announce whether Mr Shayler is to be extradited to the UK to face charges of
releasing official secrets.
One of Mr Shayler's lawyers, William Bourdon, said that Britain's Official Secrets Act ran
counter to the European Human Rights convention.
Mr Shayler's court hearing and the spywatcher appointment made the lead story of today's
Guardian, although other newspapers were more restrained with their coverage.
The trial story was given coverage in the Home News pages of The Independent, with Tony
Blair's appointment just a one paragraph addition after the main story.
The Daily Telegraph ran coverage of the trial, with a picture of Mr Shayler and Miss
Machon, in an inside news page as a limpet story to the watchdog appointment, as did The
Daily Mail. 'Why I blew the whistle on the Secret Service' ran the headline on page 36 of
The Express, the story giving Mr Shayler's reasons for telling all.
But The Times gave the extradition hearing just a passing mention in a piece that
concentrated on Tony Blair's announcement.
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