US vows to answer EU on 'secret jails'
By Guy Dinmore
Published: November 30 2005 02:00 | Last updated: November 30 2005 02:00
The Bush administration said it would respond "in as forthright and timely a manner as possible" to a request sent yesterday by the European Union for information about alleged secret prisons and CIA flights on EU territory.
The request was sent in a letter from Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, as representative of the EU presidency, to Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state.
Ms Rice addressed the issue in talks in Washington yesterday with Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's new foreign minister. Sean McCormack, spokesman for Ms Rice, quoted her as saying that US activities complied with US laws, the US constitution and its international obligations.
Guy Dinmore, Washington
