Expert: U.N. Seeks U.S. Detention Centers-investigating secret faclilities [View All]

VIENNA, Austria - U.N. human rights experts have begun an investigation into U.S. detention facilities for terrorist suspects and allegations that there are secret prisons, one of the project leaders said Wednesday.

Manfred Nowak, the U.N.'s special expert on torture, said some undeclared holding areas could include U.S. Navy ships in international waters. He said there were "serious" allegations to that effect from Amnesty International and other non-governmental human rights groups.

"I have heard these rumors and we have to follow them up," he told The Associated Press, urging Washington to cooperate with the investigation.

Officials at the U.S. mission to the United Nations in Vienna refused to comment.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050629/ap_on_re_us/un_us_terrorist_suspects;_