Tortures

Lawyer: CIA gave Romania millions to host secret prisons

The CIA paid Romania "millions of dollars" to host secret prisons, a rights lawyer said Wednesday as the European Court of Human Rights heard accusations that Romania allowed the agency to torture terrorism suspects in a secret renditions program under President George W. Bush.

Amrit Singh told the court on the opening day of the case that CIA prisons were in Romania from 2003-2005 with the government's "acquiescence and connivance," something authorities have denied.

Romanian government representative Catrinel Brumar countered that it takes more than "hints and speculation to establish the state's responsibilities." She said an investigation was ongoing.

The court said it would rule in a few months on whether Romania knowingly allowed CIA secret prisons where torture occurred, and whether it failed to prevent the torture of Singh's client.