The head of Britain's espionage agency said on Monday it was not complicit in the mistreatment of terrorism suspects overseas, backing government denials.

John Scarlett, head of the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), also known as MI6, told BBC radio there was "no torture, and there is no complicity with torture".

On Sunday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Interior Minister Alan Johnson defended Britain's intelligence links with countries where detainees are at risk of torture or other abuse.

Their comments came after a report by lawmakers in which they expressed concern about cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.

"Our officers are as committed to the values and the human rights values of liberal democracy as anybody else," Scarlett said.

"They also have responsibility of protecting the country against terrorism, and these issues need to be debated and understood in that context."

Scarlett, due to stand down in November after heading the service since 2004, said Britain's closest ally, the United States, was aware of its standards.

"Our American allies know that we are our own service, working to our own laws, nobody else's, and to our own values."

Britain has been at heightened risk of terrorism with overseas links since the 9/11 attacks in the United States. On July 7, 2005, suicide bombers said to have received training in Pakistan killed 52 passengers on London's transport system.

Britain has intensified foreign intelligence efforts since then, but rights groups have criticised it for not pressing more effectively against ill-treatment of detainees held by allies.

(Source: Reuters)