The US embassy in London was forced to clarify statements by its ambassador after he said there was “no evidence” that the US had sent a terrorist suspect to Syria as part of its controversial “extraordinary rendition” programme.

Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen born in Syria, filed suit in federal court last year accusing US authorities of seizing him while he was flying through a New York airport in September 2002 and putting him on a private jet to Jordan and then Syria, where he alleges he was tortured. Mr Arar has denied any affiliation with terrorist organisations.