WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States released on Thursday a letter by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, EU's acting president, to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over reports of secret CIA prisoner flights using EU territory.

    "This matter was discussed by EU foreign ministers at the meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on November 21," Straw said in the letter dated Nov. 29, adding that it has attracted "considerable parliamentary and public attention."

    "The European Union will therefore be grateful for clarification the US can give about these reports in the hope that this will allay parliamentary and public concerns," Straw said.

    Recent media reports said that the United States has secret prisons and transports terror suspects through EU member states. The United States has promised to make a response to EU concerns when Rice visits Europe next week. Enditem