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EU endorses damning report on CIA EU endorses damning report on CIA
(about 1 hour later)
The European parliament has approved a damning report on secret CIA flights, condemning member states which had colluded in the operations. The European parliament has approved a damning report on secret CIA flights, condemning member states which colluded in the operations.
The UK, Germany and Italy were among 14 states which allowed the US to forcibly remove terror suspects, MEPs said. The UK, Germany and Italy were among 13 states which allowed the US to forcibly remove terror suspects, lawmakers said.
The EU parliament voted to accept a resolution condemning member states which accepted or ignored the practice.The EU parliament voted to accept a resolution condemning member states which accepted or ignored the practice.
The EU report said the US had operated 1,200 flights, flying suspects on to states where they could face torture. The EU report said the CIA had operated 1,245 flights, some taking suspects to states where they could face torture.
The report was adopted by a large majority, with 382 MEPs voting in favour, 256 against and 74 abstaining.The report was adopted by a large majority, with 382 MEPs voting in favour, 256 against and 74 abstaining.
VigilanceVigilance
The final version denounces the lack of co-operation of many EU member states and it condemns the actions of secret services and governments who accepted and concealed renditions.The final version denounces the lack of co-operation of many EU member states and it condemns the actions of secret services and governments who accepted and concealed renditions.
We must be vigilant that what has been happening in the past five years may never happen again Giovanni FavaItalian Socialist MEP and report author Tales of torture Rendition or rights?We must be vigilant that what has been happening in the past five years may never happen again Giovanni FavaItalian Socialist MEP and report author Tales of torture Rendition or rights?
It is unlikely, the report says, that European governments were unaware of rendition activities on their territory, something the British government, among others, has denied.It is unlikely, the report says, that European governments were unaware of rendition activities on their territory, something the British government, among others, has denied.
"This is a report that doesn't allow anyone to look the other way. We must be vigilant that what has been happening in the past five years may never happen again," said Italian Socialist Giovanni Fava, who drafted the document."This is a report that doesn't allow anyone to look the other way. We must be vigilant that what has been happening in the past five years may never happen again," said Italian Socialist Giovanni Fava, who drafted the document.
The parliament also called for an "independent inquiry" to be considered.The parliament also called for an "independent inquiry" to be considered.
Human rights campaigner Amnesty International welcomed the EU lawmakers' vote, but urged member states to carry out independent investigations. Human rights campaigning group Amnesty International welcomed the EU lawmakers' vote, but urged member states to carry out independent investigations.
Revealing factsRevealing facts
Although the report has no force in EU law, Mr Fava said during the parliamentary debate that the related investigation, over a year, had uncovered much new evidence.Although the report has no force in EU law, Mr Fava said during the parliamentary debate that the related investigation, over a year, had uncovered much new evidence.
Germany's Europe minister Guenther Gloser - whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency - admitted that his own country had begun investigating some of the points raised in the report, but said a more "reticent" form of words would have been appropriate. EU STATES INVOLVED AustriaCyprusDenmarkGermanyGreeceIrelandItalySpainSwedenPolandPortugalRomaniaUnited Kingdom class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/6361829.stm">Key excerpts of report
But centre-right MEPs - the largest group in parliament - say it is motivated by anti-Americanism and that the investigation has duplicated enquiries by the human rights body, the Council of Europe. Many of those taken from EU states were subjected to torture to extract information from them, the report said.
Poland is one of the countries most strongly criticised, although the final report has dropped any mention of secret detention sites there, says the BBC's Alix Kroeger in Strasbourg. It said there was a "strong possibility" that this intelligence had been passed on to EU governments who were aware of how it was obtained.
It also uncovered the use of secret detention facilities used as the flights made their journey across Europe towards countries such as Afghanistan.
'Incommunicado detention'
Centre-right MEPs - the largest group in parliament - have been highly critical of the report, saying it is primarily motivated by anti-Americanism.
EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the commission would act on the truth, even if it were uncomfortable or unpalatable. But he called for a relaunching of the Euro-Atlantic relationship and said Europe must continue to work with its US partners.EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the commission would act on the truth, even if it were uncomfortable or unpalatable. But he called for a relaunching of the Euro-Atlantic relationship and said Europe must continue to work with its US partners.
During the course of their investigation, delegations of MEPs travelled to countries including Romania, Poland, the UK, the US and Germany to investigate claims of European involvement in so-called extraordinary renditions.During the course of their investigation, delegations of MEPs travelled to countries including Romania, Poland, the UK, the US and Germany to investigate claims of European involvement in so-called extraordinary renditions.
The report defines extraordinary renditions as instances where "an individual suspected of involvement in terrorism is illegally abducted, arrested and/or transferred into the custody of US officials and/or transported to another country for interrogation which, in the majority of cases involves incommunicado detention and torture".The report defines extraordinary renditions as instances where "an individual suspected of involvement in terrorism is illegally abducted, arrested and/or transferred into the custody of US officials and/or transported to another country for interrogation which, in the majority of cases involves incommunicado detention and torture".