Polish ministers 'had evidence of CIA prisons'

Polish investigators may have uncovered evidence showing that a number of key cabinet ministers knew of the existence of secret CIA prisons in Poland where controversial interrogation techniques such as water-boarding could have been common place.

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A Polish radio station has claimed that prosecutors possess a 2006 report confirming the jail's existence, written by Roman Giertych, a cabinet minister in Poland's previous government, who was then head of a committee monitoring the secret services.

The station, Radio Zet, says that at least two ministers, including then justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, saw the report.

The revelations have been supported by similar claims by one of Poland's most respected newspapers. Gazeta Wyborcza says that it has seen a document, possessed by prosecutors, proving the existence of a key CIA centre in Poland, which was set up under a secret Polish-US agreement in 2002.

The paper adds that the secret service presented the report to Poland's then chief prosecutor, Janusz Kaczmarek and two ministers in 2006. Mr Kaczmarek confirmed he met the ministers but has refused to disclose what was discussed.

Prosecutors began their probe under orders from Poland's prime minister, Donald Tusk, in order to investigate persistent accusations that Szymany, an air force base in north-east Poland, was the location of a key centre in US's campaign against terrorist networks.

They are also investigating claims that US interrogators used practices such as water-boarding, regarded by many as torture, in Poland.

If the allegations prove true it could come as an acute embarrassment for many of Poland's leading politicians. Since rumours of a jail first began to circulate in 2005 a long list of the country's leaders have issued repeated, and continue to issue, blanket denials of the existence of a secret centre. More