EU grows impatient on secret-prison issue
LONDON — European indignation over the CIA's alleged use of kidnappings, secret flights and clandestine prisons on European territory mounted Wednesday as leaders in Britain and Germany pressed the U.S. government for an explanation.
The European Union cited possible "violations of international law" by the United States in its request that the Bush administration clarify media reports and "allay parliamentary and public concerns" about secret CIA prisons and the transporting of al-Qaida suspects in Europe, according to a letter from British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The brief letter, written by Straw because the United Kingdom currently holds the EU presidency, makes no accusations and carefully refers only to media characterizations. It does not mention myriad investigations launched by governments and European institutions since The Washington Post disclosed last month a secret CIA prison system operating in Eastern European and other countries. The British government has not released the letter, but it was provided by diplomatic sources.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, who has declined to confirm or deny existence of the CIA detention centers, said the administration would respond "to the best of our ability." He set no timetable for a response, but European officials said they hope Rice makes public her reply before she departs next week on a five-day swing through Europe.
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