Bush makes European leaders look foolish

8.51.35am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 7th Sep 2006

Vice-chair of the European Parliament's committee on extraordinary rendition Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP, reacting to President Bush's announcement that 14 prisoners held in secret CIA detention have been transferred to Guantanamo Bay, said:

"By his admission that the CIA has indeed practised illegal kidnapping and detention, Bush exposes not only his own previous lies. He also exposes to ridicule those arrogant government leaders in Europe who dismissed as unfounded our fears about 'extraordinary rendition'."

"This admission is a tribute to the investigative skills and tenacity of journalists, human rights campaigners and lawyers, not least American ones, who have persisted in the face of official obstruction."

"In Europe, parliamentarians have shown that if we work together, as MPs, Euro-MPs and Council of Europe assembly, we can have remarkable effect in advancing the truth against the wall of silence from governments."