Yesterday, the Syria News Wire reported that the US had come close to admitting it had flown terror suspects to Syria for torture. It suggests a much closer relationship between the two countries than previously thought.

The US Ambassador to London categorically denied the flights, but the next day officials issued the following statement:

"The ambassador recognised that there had been a media report of a rendition to Syria, but reiterated that the United States is not in a position to comment on specific allegations of intelligence activities that appear in the press."

British diplomatic journalist Ewan MacAskill explains the meaning behind the comment and retraction: "The [second] statement is close to an admission of at least one flight to Syria as it would be unlikely to embarrass the ambassador by referring to a media report it considered inaccurate."