Spain denies breaking laws in connection with CIA actions

Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos today told a special European Parliament committee investigating alleged CIA secret flights and detention centres in Europe there had been no violations of Spanish law with respect to CIA activities on Spanish soil, since his government took office.

“Our government has not authorised any violation of law,” Moratinos told EU lawmakers, adding Spanish authorities had not found any evidence or indications of crimes related to stop-overs of CIA flights, notably that detainees were tortured or illegally interrogated at secret locations in Spain.

He denied claims that Spanish authorities helped in the transfer of suspects to US secret agents.

Moratinos said US authorities had assured the Spanish government they were not aware of any secret passengers aboard CIA planes that stopped over in Spain on their way to destinations such as Kabul, Afghanistan, or the US military base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

He said he would raise the issue at EU foreign ministers talks tomorrow.