By DPA,
Madrid : The US continues to use Spanish territory for flights to the Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba despite criticism of the use of European airports for its anti-terrorism campaign, the daily El Pais reported Wednesday.
Two US military planes took off from the naval base of Rota near Cadiz, which is under joint Spanish-US use, in June and September 2007.
The information was initially disclosed by the Portuguese government, which has admitted that 56 flights organized by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used Portuguese airspace between 2005 and 2007.
The two flights that left from Rota were not linked to the CIA and had no detainees on board, El Pais quoted “unofficial” defence ministry sources as saying.
The Spanish judiciary is investigating the possible use of Spanish airports for the transport of alleged terrorists to the US prison camp in Guantanamo between 2002 and 2007.
Spain’s bilateral defence agreement with the US prohibits flights that could be “controversial” for Spain.