A leading human rights watchdog today gave European governments three months to reveal anything they know about illegal jailing of terrorist suspects or secret flights carrying them across the continent.
The Council of Europe, invoking rarely used legal powers, said it had written to its 45 member states and given them until February 21 next year to provide the requested information.
The move came amid a growing wave of investigations by prosecutors, judges and human rights groups around Europe into the CIA 's alleged use of clandestine prisons to hold terrorist suspects and secret flights to move them between countries.
Although it did not mention the United States or the CIA by name, the council asked governments to explain, among other things "the manner in which their internal law ensures that acts by officials of foreign agencies within their jurisdiction are subject to adequate controls".
Council Secretary General Terry Davis said: "Considering the very serious nature of the allegations, Europe's response should go beyond political statements and inquiries."
He added: "My objective is to find out what, if anything, happened, how it happened and who was involved."