Labour government censors the press

The Government has gagged the media to stop them revealing the identity of a British spy reported to have helped torture terror suspects held in Greece.

A leading Greek paper has named a man it claims is the MI6 station chief in Athens.

He and another British official are alleged to have helped the Greek authorities arrest and then interrogate 28 Pakistani-born detainees seized in connection with the July 7 London bombings.

The paper, Proto Thema, reported the men had been seized in July, held in secret and hooded.

One claimed to have had a gun forced in his mouth and another claims to have been hit "very hard" on the head.

Following the questioning, the British officers told the captives their families in Pakistan and the UK faced reprisals if they spoke of their ordeal.

Today a spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said that it would not confirm or deny the allegations.

A Government D-notice has been issued, prohibiting the UK media from naming the man.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw previously told MPs the allegations were "complete nonsense".

Proto Thema said the suspects, who were all migrant workers, were questioned over mobile phone calls linked to the suicide bombers and another man in Pakistan wanted for questioning about the attacks. The detainees said they were convinced their interrogators were British, though they spoke fluent Greek.