MEP backs CIA kidnap claims

An MEP backed accusations that the CIA had kidnapped and illegally detained terrorism suspects on European Union territory and flown them to countries that used torture.

“The CIA has, on several occasions, clearly been responsible for kidnapping and illegally detaining alleged terrorists on the territory of member states,” Claudio Fava said in his first interim report of the European Parliament’s inquiry into the suspected CIA abuses.

Signor Fava told a news conference that more than 1,000 flights operated by the CIA transited through the EU, with Spain being the only EU country to ask questions about these flights. He said it was unlikely that European governments were unaware of the CIA activities, specifically pointing to Italy, Sweden and Bosnia.

The inquiry has no legal powers, but the committee will recommend what political action should be taken against any countries found to have been involved, including the US.

The Council of Europe said that at least one European state had admitted handing over terrorism suspects to foreign agents. (Reuters)