EU Investigation Accuses CIA of 1,000 Illegal Flights
Lisa Bryant
Voice of America
___________
Paris (France):
European Parliament investigators say the CIA conducted more than 1,000 undeclared flights over European territory during the past five years. The rendition flights allegedly moved suspected terrorists from the Middle East to other regions. But not all lawmakers are convinced that alleged CIA flights took place.
The latest allegations are part of a first interim report into alleged CIA activities published by a special European Parliament investigative committee.
Italian lawmaker Giovanni Claudio Fava, a committee member who drafted the report, says the apparent CIA flights over European territory violated international law. He said there was evidence that the alleged flights then flew on to countries that have used torture. Fava also charged the CIA with kidnapping and illegally detaining alleged terrorists on the territory of EU member states.
Earlier this year, a special investigator for the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe also suggested that alleged CIA renditions to third countries appeared to have taken place - and that, if so, some European countries must have known about them.
The twin investigations follow reports last year that the CIA had run secret rendition flights and prisons in Eastern Europe for al-Qaida suspects.
Apr 26, 2006
Lisa Bryant
Voice of America
___________
Paris (France):
European Parliament investigators say the CIA conducted more than 1,000 undeclared flights over European territory during the past five years. The rendition flights allegedly moved suspected terrorists from the Middle East to other regions. But not all lawmakers are convinced that alleged CIA flights took place.
The latest allegations are part of a first interim report into alleged CIA activities published by a special European Parliament investigative committee.
Italian lawmaker Giovanni Claudio Fava, a committee member who drafted the report, says the apparent CIA flights over European territory violated international law. He said there was evidence that the alleged flights then flew on to countries that have used torture. Fava also charged the CIA with kidnapping and illegally detaining alleged terrorists on the territory of EU member states.
Earlier this year, a special investigator for the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe also suggested that alleged CIA renditions to third countries appeared to have taken place - and that, if so, some European countries must have known about them.
The twin investigations follow reports last year that the CIA had run secret rendition flights and prisons in Eastern Europe for al-Qaida suspects.
Apr 26, 2006
