LONDON: Britain has agreed to pay 2.2 million pounds ($3.5 million) to a Libyan dissident who says British secret services played a role in his illegal rendition, his lawyers said on Thursday.

Sami al-Saadi, a leading opponent of Muammar Qadhafi, says he was forcibly transferred to Libya from Hong Kong along with his wife and four children in 2004 in a joint British-US-Libyan operation. He says he was imprisoned and tortured after his return to Libya.

The British government said it had reached a settlement — believed to be of 2.2 million pounds — but said it had not admitted liability.

Al-Saadi said although he wanted Britain to acknowledge its role in his rendition, he was now ending his legal action.

“I started this process believing that a British trial would get to the truth in my case,” he said.

“But today, with the government trying to push through secret courts, I feel that to proceed is not best for my family.” —AFP