By Daisy Ayliffe - 30th November 2005
The US will look into reports that the CIA is running secret jails in Eastern Europe and that planes carrying detainees used European airports.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Tuesday that the US would “provide a prompt and detailed response” to an EU request for clarification.
Following discussions in Washington, the Bush administration told Germany’s new foreign minister that “all American actions are in line with US law...and international obligations.”
“We have never fought a war like this before...you cannot let somebody commit a crime before you arrest them. If they commit the crime, thousands of innocents can die”, the US secretary of state added.
Last week, the EU said it would formally ask the US to check reports that it operated secret CIA prisons in Eastern Europe.
US officials had previously said little about the reports. Yesterday’s comments will see the issue dominate the headlines during Rice’s visit to Europe next week.
Have your say...
Please enter your comments below.