The agencies quote unnamed sources as saying the CIA has sent a report to the Justice Department about a "Washington Post" story. That story published last week said the CIA had transported and interrogated some of its most important Al-Qaeda suspects to Soviet-era compounds in Eastern Europe.
The administration of President George W. Bush has refused to confirm or deny the "Post" story.
Yesterday, the Council of Europe announced it will look into whether the CIA is operating secret prisons on European soil.
In a related development, the Pentagon-- under pressure over the treatment of detainees held by U.S. military -- has issued new guidelines for treating them. Among other things, the new rules explicitly bar torture and prohibit use of dogs to intimidate prisoners.
(Reuters/AP/dpa)