A group of Britons taken hostage and used as 'human shields' by Saddam Hussein before the first Gulf War demanded on Monday a public inquiry into charges the government knowingly put their lives at risk.
Their demand was triggered after a new book claimed that the flight they were on was being used to transport undercover agents into Kuwait, at the start of Iraq's invasion of its tiny neighbour.
Some 367 passengers and crew were seized by Iraqi troops when British Airways flight 149 to Kuala Lumpur touched down to refuel in Kuwait hours after the invasion of the country on August 2, 1990.
According to passengers and crew who were on board, a group of nine men joined the flight unannounced as it was delayed at London Heathrow Airport shortly before take-off, and disappeared immediately after it landed in Kuwait.
Author Stephen Davis says he has documentary evidence indicating that the men on the plane were on a secret mission to gather intelligence on the movements of Iraqi dictator Saddam's troops.
He has detailed his findings in a forthcoming book and BBC documentary "The Secret of Flight 149".
"There is no doubt that valuable intelligence which saved lives was gained, but these people were put through a terrible time and governments have lied about it ever since," Davis said.
"I think it is time it stopped. At every stage, there has been a very determined effort for the truth about this to be suppressed."
The Britons held as "human shields" were detained at sites thought likely to be targeted by coalition bombing. They were all released after up to four and a half months in captivity.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "This was discussed in parliament at the time in quite some detail and we've got nothing to add to what was said then."
MP Norman Baker wrote to Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday asking him to meet crew and passengers to hear their request for an inquiry.
He said it was clear that statements made in parliament by former prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major were "misleading to say the least", and called for the release of a classified Military Police report on the human shields.
Passenger John Chappell, 30, said: "I was a 14-year-old schoolboy when this took place and it was apparent to me that Iraq was very likely to invade Kuwait and it wasn't a safe place to land.
"I am disgusted that for 16 years my government has denied all of this. It is not on for them to treat me like this and then lie about it and that is why I want an apology."
His sister Jennifer, 29, said she saw Iraqi tanks driving over cars full of people trying to flee.
"This experience took away my innocence. My childhood ended and I have had 16 years of psychological problems as a result," she said.
David Fort, 70, added: "I want an apology and I want compensation. Me and my partner both lost our jobs because of this and we never worked again."