Watchdog urges 'CIA jails' probe

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The Council of Europe has demanded an investigation into claims the US ran secret jails for terror suspects.

The human rights watchdog called the claims "extremely worrying" and said such prisons would constitute a serious human rights violation.

A US newspaper said such prisons were set up in eight countries - some of them unnamed Eastern European states.

"It is essential that these allegations be thoroughly investigated," said Human Rights Commissioner Alvaro Gil-Robles.

"Such practices would constitute a serious human rights violation, and further proof of the crisis of values that the use of certain methods in the fight against terrorism is proving," he was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4408410.stm