The Government’s response to the EU inquiry into the alleged unlawful detention and transport of suspects by the CIA throughout Europe was misleading, it was claimed today.

The head of Europe’s human rights watchdog said “appropriate action” would be taken against countries who did not take legal steps to prevent their airports being used for CIA flights of terror suspects or their territory for secret detention centres.

European governments are not willing to reveal what they know about US intelligence service activities on their territory, effectively obstructing an investigation into allegations of CIA secret prisons and flights in Europe, Human Rights Watch said it planned to tell the European Parliament tomorrow.

Europe’s top human rights watchdog reacted with dismay to the execution of California’s oldest inmate today, saying it was regrettable the governor rejected clemency for the man who arranged a triple murder 25 years ago.

The head of Europe’s top human rights watchdog today joined an investigation into alleged secret CIA detention centres and flights in Europe, urging the governments of the Council of Europe member states to provide full information on the issue.

The United States is coming under increasing pressure from European governments to reply to charges that planes with alleged links to CIA prisoner transports have quietly touched down in their countries.

The European Commission said today it will investigate reports that the CIA set up secret jails in eastern Europe to interrogate al-Qaida captives.

Europe’s top human rights organisation today pleaded with the United States and Japan to end capital punishment, arguing their example would force others to follow.

Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski said today that Western European governments have a duty to support democratic reforms in countries on Europe’s eastern fringe.

Ukraine’s President Viktor Yushchenko made his first trip to the West since his inauguration today, visiting Europe’s top human rights body as he seeks recognition of the former Soviet republic’s right to join the EU and other Western institutions.

Protesters gathered outside Ukraine’s government headquarters in Kiev today to prevent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych convening the Cabinet.

Pressure is mounting on Ukrainian election loser Viktor Yanukovych to concede defeat today, after it emerged that opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko won the bitter presidential race by more than two million votes.