No evidence of CIA prisons

2005-11-30 21:06

Brussels - EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said on Wednesday he has no evidence the CIA has secret prisons in Europe, but repeated that he would take action against the states involved if any were found.

Frattini said he had spoken to officials in a number of European Union member states and that Washington had promised to get back to him with any details it might have.

"I'm not a super prosecutor of course, but I've spoken directly to several ministers of the interior of member states. They denied the allegations. Without evidence, I trust these ministers of course," he told reporters.

"We have asked the US administration to give an answer, to give a response, and ... the US State Department promised to give a formal response to our request for more information," he said.

"It is absolutely clear that if there would be evidence of state or candidate allowing or having allowed on its territory camps or prisons or something like that not in compliance with European and international standards on the treatment of prisoners, we would have the duty to declare a serious violation of EU treaties," he said.

The United States has acknowledged European concerns over the reports of secret CIA prisons and transport flights for terror suspects, calling them "legitimate questions" that deserve a response.

US officials had previously said little amid an uproar over reports that broke in the last month of clandestine interrogation centres and prisoner transport flights, including suggestions of on-board torture sessions.

They refused to confirm or deny the existence of such facilities but defended in general terms the use of tough tactics in the war on terror.

Frattini threatened sanctions on Monday for any EU nation found to have allowed secret CIA prison camps to operate on its soil.

- AFP