CIA rendition flights resume

Reports of CIA tagged aircraft in multiple countries

CIA aircraft named by a European Union report as participating in the US 'extraordinary rendition' program have been seen landing in two countries over the last week, raising fresh concerns that the program is not over, as the US contends.

According to a report in an Irish newspaper, four CIA jets identified in the EU report have landed this month.

The planes -- identified by tail numbers -- are operated by Centurion Aviation Services, a shell company for the CIA, and were allegedly used for the illegal detention and transport of prisoners between various countries.

In an extraordinary rendition, US agents pick up a suspected terrorist in one country and transport them to another country with less strict prohibitions on torture for interrogation.

NORWAY: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23378733-401,00.html HUNGARY: (look at this carefully since it seems to be old photo, but its still a report:) http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/TopNews/2008/03/12/ciarenditionflightspottedinhungary/3487/ IRELAND: http://www.limerickleader.ie/shannon/Four-suspect-CIA-flights-refuel.3874652.jp

A PLANE believed to be carrying CIA prisoners has stopped over at a small airport in southwestern Norway, local media reported. The suspected 'rendition' flight was made from Brno in the Czech Republic to Sola airport near Stavanger.

The plane refueled before flying on to the Keflavik airport in Iceland, local newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad reported, quoting airport officials.

Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten said the aircraft belonged to Aviation Specialities Ing, a company often used by the CIA for its controversial prisoner transport and so-called rendition flights, according to a 2006 European parliament report.

Extraordinary rendition, whereby suspects are transferred covertly to a third country or to US-run detention centres, has been harshly criticised since it began in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States.

Neither the Sola airport authorities nor Norway's foreign ministry responded to AFP requests for comment, but ministry spokeswoman Kristin Melsom told Stavanger Aftenblad the government had not been informed about Friday's flight.

``The only thing I can say is what we have said in the past: US authorities respect Norwegian laws and these planes are not used to illegally transport prisoners,'' she said.

According to the newspaper, as many as 15 flights suspected of transporting CIA prisoners were registered at Sola airport between 2003 and 2007.



