No proof of CIA rendition flights: EU foreign policy chief News
No proof of CIA rendition flights: EU foreign policy chief

[JURIST] No proof exists that the CIA used secret prisons in eastern Europe for terror suspects, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana [official profile] said Tuesday. Solana, the high representative for common foreign and security policy in the EU, also told the European Parliament [official website] that he lacked the power to investigate the rendition [JURIST news archive] allegations, which first surfaced in the media last fall. According to Solana, an investigation into the claims can only be opened by the European Commission [official website] or as a result of a joint request by a third of EU member states. Solana's powers are limited under the EU charter, as he is not a formal foreign minister. Some MEPs argued that Solana could question member states about the issue.

Italian MEP Giovanni Claudio Fava [official website] issued an interim report [JURIST report] last week that the CIA has transported terror suspects on more than 1,000 flights over European territory. EU terrorism chief Gijs de Vries [BBC profile] has said the existence of the prisons cannot be proven [JURIST report]. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

First US execution by gas

On February 8, 1924, Gee Jon, a Chinese man convicted of murder, was executed by gas in Nevada and became the first person in the United States to be put to death in that manner.

The Nevada state legislature had eliminated hanging and shooting as a method of execution in 1921, and had provided for execution by lethal gas instead. Nevada sent 32 convicts to the gas chamber between 1924 and 1979. Learn more about the history of executions by gas in Nevada.

Mary, Queen of Scots executed

On February 8, 1587, Mary I of Scotland was executed for involvement in a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I of England. Before execution, Mary denied three times assisting the Babington Plot to murder her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, and crown Mary as ruler of Great Britain. Mary's guilt or innocence is debated to this day. Learn more about the Babington Plot.