Originally published December 27 2005
European citizens angered by suspected agreement between governments and the CIA that allowed prisoners to be held in secret
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Six European countries have launched investigations after reports have suggested secret CIA prisons have been operating across Europe, and the groundswell of anger among EU citizens is expected to confront Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on her trip to Europe.
A gathering storm of outrage will greet Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice when she visits Europe next week amid allegations that the CIA has been using airports and military bases across the Continent to secretly transport and detain terrorist suspects.
Six countries have launched judicial investigations, Europe's top human rights watchdog has begun a probe, and the European Union has formally asked Washington to clarify reports that the Central Intelligence Agency's network of clandestine jails extends to Europe.
"There is a profound shock among the public that some [European] governments seem to have been in collusion with the CIA in assisting them to have individuals disappear into black holes," says Magnus Ranstorp, a terrorism expert at the Swedish National Defense College.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeyer, who raised the issue of secret jails with Dr. Rice during a meeting Tuesday in Washington, said afterward that she had promised to "provide a prompt and detailed response" to the EU letter.
Allegations that the CIA had hidden and interrogated some of its most important Al Qaeda suspects in unidentified Eastern European countries were first reported in a Nov. 2 Washington Post article.
The next day, Human Rights Watch said evidence suggested Poland and Romania had hosted the secret jails.
The controversy has broadened to include countries whose airspace or airports were allegedly used by CIA planes carrying secret prisoners.
Using information from Human Rights Watch, Dick Marty, investigating for the Council of Europe - Europe's human rights watchdog - has said CIA-linked planes appear to have stopped over at airports in Ireland, Cyprus, and Spain.
Launching his investigation last week, Marty said the Council of Europe had a "moral obligation" to probe the allegations.
"I think all Europeans agree with Americans that we must fight terrorism," he told reporters.
Some former prisoners have claimed they were tortured in the secret facilities that constitute the CIA's "extraordinary rendition" network.
A German prosecutor is investigating the alleged kidnapping.
Italian prosecutors have also launched extradition proceedings against 13 alleged CIA operatives they believe were responsible for the kidnapping of Abu Omar, a radical Islamic cleric, from a Milan street in February 2003.
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