EU to ask govts for 'CIA prisons' statements

The European Union said today it would ask governments of its East European member countries, and those seeking membership, to comment publicly on allegations that the CIA set up secret jails in the region to interrogate al-Qaida suspects.

The allegations triggered a series of denials from governments in the former Soviet bloc. EU officials, the international Red Cross and the continent’s top human rights organisation have said they would look into the issue.