EU-CIA claims lead to Germany

MEPs are investigating allegations of German and Macedonian involvement in CIA “rendition” cases - after claims a German citizen was sent for torture in Afghanistan.

On Monday Khaled El Masri told MEPs he was wrongfully arrested in Macedonia before being sent for torture in Afghanistan.

“I do not think you cannot manufacture that sense of outrage in an innocent person,” Socialist committee member Claude Moraes told EUpolitix.com.

MEPs on the parliamentary special committee are investigating allegations that the CIA used EU airfields to fly prisoners abroad for torture.

“El Masri does not know why he was arrested,” Moraes added.

“Some MEPs tried to attribute a fundamentalist background to him but he batted that away very effectively. His testimony was incredibly clear. He was open and honest, straight and succinct."

The role of a mystery interrogator known only as "Sam" has become central to the committee’s investigation.

“Sam seems to be an intelligence operative,” Moraes explained. 

“El Masri said he was a German but it is impossible to speculate if he was German or a CIA operative.”

But other committee members were more disbelieving of the allegations. German right winger Elmar Brok slammed claims of a German cover up.

"I've never been to a hearing in which the words 'I don't know,' 'I assume,' and 'maybe' were used so frequently. No clear evidence was produced. Obviously, the Americans conducted the abduction. There is no evidence that the authorities of a member state participated or covered it up."

Parliamentarians have called for further inquiries to establish the facts about the involvement of German agents.

A special mission of MEPs will also travel to Macedonia to follow up claims that El Masri was questioned for 23 days in a Skopje hotel.

The visit will come at a difficult time for Macedonia where the government is desperately seeking to strengthen EU ties.

Macedonian officials have an April 7 deadline to respond to MEPs’ questions.

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