A leading U.S. newspaper reports that the Central Intelligence Agency has set up secret joint anti-terrorist centers in more than 20 nations.
The Washington Post Friday says the centers may act on tips provided by the CIA, but local agents are used to capture suspected terrorists.
The newspaper based its report on interviews with current and former U.S. and foreign officials who declined to be named.
The Post says the secret program is legal and received a huge boost after the September 2001 terrorist attacks. It says increased funding has allowed the CIA to entice a wide variety of countries to work with it, including Indonesia, Uzbekistan and France.
The newspaper reports the centers are separate from the secret CIA prisons the Post says exist in several countries.
The CIA had no immediate comment on the report.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.
