BRUSSELS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told the European Parliament (EP) members here on Tuesday that he had no information that CIA agents interrogated al-Qaida suspects at secret prisons in Europe and operated flights over European territory.

    During a hearing conducted by the EP foreign affairs committee, Solana said that although he had no proof of CIA prisons or flights, the allegations were "not a marginal issue" for EU-U.S. relations.

    He called on Washington to provide further clarification on terror suspects allegedly held incommunicado.

    "Professionally, in the role I have now in the European Union (EU), I have no information whatsoever that tells me with certainty that any of the accusations, allegations, rumors that have taken place in the last period of time are true," Solana said.

    A week ago, the EP committee said data from the EU's air traffic agency prove the CIA has conducted around 1,000 secret flights in Europe since 2001.

    Solana said the United States had already given assurances it does not torture terror suspects in detention, and he gave guarantees that no EU country uses intelligence obtained under torture.

    Solana said he had no mandate to ask EU member states how they handle the allegations, and that the fight against terrorism was solely in the hands of EU governments.

    The remarks drew criticism from some legislators.

    "You are in effect washing your hands from responsibility. You can't simply say this is out of your remit," Spanish deputy Willy Meyer said.

    British lawmaker Sarah Ludford said Solana's claims of the lack of competence to ask member states basic questions paint "a pathetic picture of the EU."

    The EP's investigation began in January after news reports said U.S. agents had interrogated al-Qaida suspects at secret prisons in eastern Europe.

    Human Rights Watch identified Romania and Poland as possible sites of the clandestine detention centers. Both countries denied involvement.

    Legislators said flight data showed a pattern of alleged hidden operations by U.S. agents, and they accused some European governments of knowing about it but remaining silent.

    "We still don't know the facts. Prosecutors are looking into it,but it's hard to comment," Solana told journalists after the hearing.

    Secret detention centers and flights via or from Europe to countries where suspects could face torture would breach the continent's human rights conventions. Enditem