Secret flights inquiry visits UK

There are claims CIA flights have landed in European countries

An inquiry into claims that the UK and other nations helped the CIA secretly transport terrorist suspects is taking evidence in Britain.

Seven MEPs are spending two days in London questioning MPs, human rights groups, and relatives and lawyers of victims of alleged "renditions".

The delegation is also due to meet Europe Minister Geoff Hoon and government officials.

Whitehall denies there is evidence that prisoners are flown through Britain.

Home Office talks

Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford is heading the delegation holding the questions session in London.

Among their witnesses will be the Labour chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike Gapes, the Conservative chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on extraordinary rendition, Andrew Tyrie, and Tory member of the Intelligence and Security Committee member Michael Ancram.

They will also meet officials from the Home Office, Ministry of Defence and the Department for Transport.

The MEPS are due to report on the results of their investigation early next year.

It follows a separate investigation by the Council of Europe which said the UK was among 14 European countries which colluded in an unlawful "spider's web" of secret CIA flights.

Bush admission

The US is accused of taking suspects to secret prisons all over the world for interrogation - including to countries where torture may be used.

President George Bush publicly acknowledged for the first time last month that secret CIA prisons did exist.

He said the prisons were a vital tool in the war on terror and that intelligence gathered had saved lives.

But he said the CIA treated detainees humanely and did not use torture.

All suspects would be afforded protection under the Geneva Conventions, he said.