SeattlePI.com: U.S. acknowledges EU secret-prison concern

SeattlePIU.S. acknowledges EU secret-prison concern

The Bush administration acknowledged Tuesday that reports of secret U.S.-run prisons overseas for terror suspects have raised an outcry among European allies and said the U.S. will account for its actions."The United States in its actions does not break U.S. law," said spokesman Sean McCormack. "All its actions comply with the Constitution and we abide by our international obligations.

"And all we can do is do our best to try to explain that to publics around the world - to our own public and to European publics or wherever the question may arise."

The United States has not answered queries about the issue from allies including Britain and Spain in recent weeks, McCormack said. He said those answers are forthcoming, along with a response to a letter expected soon on behalf of the European Union. The issue is expected to dominate Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to Romania and other European countries next week, and it was a topic for a meeting Tuesday in Washington with the new German foreign minister. Meanwhile, military leaders from southeastern Europe, including countries mentioned as possible locations for the alleged secret CIA prisons, will meet with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld next week to discuss regional security issues.

The topics for the two-day meeting outlined by Pentagon officials Tuesday did not include the alleged CIA activities, but Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said other issues could come up, particularly during private meetings with Rumsfeld.