CIA operates 'unchecked' in UK

2005-12-04 08:07

London - The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has been granted "full access" to Britain's military airfields to transport terrorist suspects, the Mail on Sunday reported.

The newspaper published photographs taken by aircraft enthusiasts apparently showing three US aircraft at three Scottish airports - Edinburgh, Prestwick and Glasgow - on June 20, 2004, November 13, 2004 and September 16 this year.

"Our investigation has found proof that a series of aircraft linked to the CIA's 'extraordinary rendition' programme have been flying in and out of Britain unchecked by the authorities," it claimed.

The Mail on Sunday said one of the planes - a Casa turboprop - had also been photographed at Kabul airport, Afghanistan, and was suspected by human rights groups to have been used to move terror suspects for interrogation.

Another - an unmarked civilian Hercules C-130 - is also at the centre of a European Union probe about the alleged illegal use of EU airspace, it added.

The newspaper claimed to have unearthed flight logs from the Royal Air Force base at Northolt, northwest London, "which suggests top-level Government complicity in the CIA's secret operation".

It said the logs give no explanation about why a number of planes, including one allegedly used to transport some high-profile suspects, were granted landing rights and did not record who was on board.

CIA flights had stopped at British airports "on at least 210 occasions", the paper said.

"Nearly 20 British airports have been used, with Prestwick and Glasgow among the top destinations," it added.

"Prestwick has received 75 CIA rendition flights and Glasgow 74."

The United States has been accused since the beginning of last month of having operated CIA flights using European airspace or airports carrying terrorism suspects to countries practising torture.

British foreign secretary Jack Straw last Wednesday confirmed he had written to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on behalf of the European Union requesting clarification of the mounting claims.

On the same day, British human rights group Liberty threatened legal action if it were proved that British airports were used.

Rice is due to visit Germany this week where she is expected to face intense questioning over the claims and the alleged existence of US detention centres in eastern Europe for suspected Islamist extremists.

On Saturday, news magazine Der Spiegel revealed that its edition to be published on Monday would report the Berlin government has a list of at least 437 CIA flights in German airspace.

- AFP