US President George W Bush has acknowledged the existence of secret prisons around the world operated by the CIA.
He also revealed that 14 terrorist suspects had been transferred to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, including the alleged mastermind of the 11 September attacks, Kalid Sheikh Mohammed.
Mr Bush said prisoners were an invaluable tool in the war on terror and that intelligence gathered from the rendition programme had saved many innocent lives.
The Bush administration has come under international criticism over leaked reports that such prisons existed in countries where torture is commonly used
However, Mr Bush said the United States did not torture detainees saying it was against American values.
