BERLIN - The European Union's justice commissioner Monday warned that any bloc nation found to have operated secret CIA prisons could have their EU voting rights suspended.

His comment came as the Council of Europe — the continent's main human rights watchdog — is investigating reports that the CIA set up secret jails in some European nations and transported terror suspects by covert flights. It has urged governments to fully provide information on the issue.

"I would be obliged to propose to the council serious consequences, including the suspension of voting rights," Franco Frattini said at a counterterrorism conference.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Commentary: