THE Government will make early contact with the administration of US president-elect, Barack Obama, to seek a "clear statement of intent" that he will end extraordinary rendition and close Guantanamo Bay.

... A Cabinet committee examining international human rights issues has decided the Government should seek a "clear policy statement" from Obama that the US will end the practice known as extraordinary rendition -- the transfer of prisoners, mainly terrorist suspects from other countries for the purpose of interrogation.

'cos it just would not do to ask the sitting president to do anything about it.