WASHINGTON, March 18 Ireland’s prime minister used a Saint Patrick’s Day visit to hammer home to President George Bush concerns about secret CIA flights through his country and treatment of inmates at the US prison at Guantanamo.

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern raised the issue of rendition, the controversial US practice of moving terrorism suspects from one country to another, in White House talks on Friday, saying he had pressed for ‘more transparency’.

Human rights groups accuse the United States of transporting suspects outside legal channels to countries where they could face torture under interrogation.

Washington says it sometimes transfer suspects without following normal extradition procedures but denies sending them to countries that use torture.

The allegations have sparked protest in European countries, with governments seeking explanations from Washington whether their airports have been used for flights carrying prisoners.

Mr Ahern said Ireland’s Shannon airport was a frequent landing site for CIA and military planes and the United States had assured his government it had not been used for rendition.

But Mr Ahern told reporters: “There is concern about extraordinary renditions and concern about CIA flights and we’ve asked the president’s understanding and cooperation.”

“It’s an issue we will just keep in touch about,” he added.” We’ll do that over the next few weeks.”

White House spokesman Scott McClellan called renditions ‘a valuable tool in our efforts to save lives and protect the American people.”—Reuters