BEIJING, Dec. 14 -- A European investigator says he has found mounting evidence the United States illegally held detainees in Europe, but then hurriedly shipped out the last ones to North Africa a month ago when word leaked out.

Swiss senator Dick Marty speaks during a press conference after briefing the legal committee of the Council of Europe in Paris, Dec. 14, 2005. (Photo: AFP)

    "From the perspective of judiciary, we cannot confirm that the US does not have secret prisons in Europe. But what I am talking about now is 'the past'. Over the past years, these secret prisons did exist," said Dick Marty, a Swiss senator looking into claims the CIA operated secret prisons in Europe.

    He said an ongoing, month-long investigation unearthed "clues" that Poland and Romania were implicated ¡ª perhaps unwittingly.

    Both countries have denied any involvement but Marty said he believes no prisoners are now being held by the U.S. in Europe.

    He told reporters after briefing the legal committee of the Council of Europe, a human rights watchdog, that those detainees were moved to North Africa about a month ago.

    Asked to which North African country, he said that he would imagine that it would be Morocco.

    However, Moroccan government spokesman Nabil Benabdellah denied any connection to such prisons when reports of the transfers surfaced last week.

    The Washington Post first reported the alleged existence of secret prisons in eastern Europe and other countries early this month.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)