Diplomatic Leaks Cite US Pressure on Spanish Investigations
November 30th, 2010
American diplomats put heavy pressure on Spanish authorities to drop three investigations targeting the US and its soldiers, Spanish newspaper El Pais has reported citing documents released by WikiLeaks.
The first investigation concerned the death of Spanish cameraman Jose Couso, who was killed by American shells in Baghdad in 2003, the Spanish daily reported quoting the whistle-blowing website.
Spanish judicial authorities have recently released arrest warrants for three American soldiers.
The second investigation concerned a complaint of torture by a Guantanamo Bay inmate of Spanish nationality.
The third was an investigation into the use of Spanish bases for military flights to Guantanamo. In May this year, the Spanish prosecutor called for the detention of 13 CIA officers.
El Pais reported that former US ambassador Eduardo Aguirre, who held the post during the George W Bush administration, “personally exerted multiple pressure on the Spanish government and judicial authorities” to close these investigations. AFP
