Romania denies air base used as CIA prison

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/news/local/13081889.htm

Romania denies air base used as CIA prison

Associated Press


MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania - Romanian aviation officials and the military denied reports Friday that this air base in southeast Romania was used by the CIA as a detention facility for suspected terrorists.

The Kogalniceanu base, near the Black Sea port city of Constanta, was used by the United States to transit troops and equipment during the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. The U.S. military evacuated its remaining forces in June 2003.

"When the Americans were here there were so many civilians working there, people would have found out about it," said Dan Buciuman, the base commander.

The base, which extends over about 320 hectares (800 acres), has since been used for joint military exercises with the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Germany and Britain. The United States is expected to take it over later this year to stage training exercises.