By Country / Russia
CIA Might Probe Prison Leaks
November 09, 2005
9 November 2005 -- Several news agencies are reporting that the American intelligence agency, the CIA, has taken the first step toward opening an investigation of a leak of possibly classified information on secret prisons.
The agencies quote unnamed sources as saying the CIA has sent a report to the Justice Department about a "Washington Post" story. That story published last week said the CIA had transported and interrogated some of its most important Al-Qaeda suspects to Soviet-era compounds in Eastern Europe.
The administration of President George W. Bush has refused to confirm or deny the "Post" story.
Yesterday, the Council of Europe announced it will look into whether the CIA is operating secret prisons on European soil.
In a related development, the Pentagon-- under pressure over the treatment of detainees held by U.S. military -- has issued new guidelines for treating them. Among other things, the new rules explicitly bar torture and prohibit use of dogs to intimidate prisoners.
(Reuters/AP/dpa)