Bush talks trade and torture in Panama

PANAMA CITY, Panama, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- President Bush talked about trade and the alleged torture of terrorists Monday during the final leg of his Latin American tour.

Following talks with Panamanian President Martin Torrijos, Bush was grilled by reporters on reports in the Washington Post that the United States was operating secret detention centers as part of the "war on terror" throughout the world, particularly in Eastern Europe.

The report alleged suspects were sometimes tortured at the secret facilities.

"We are finding terrorists and bringing them to justice ... Anything we do to that effort, to that end, in this effort, any activity we conduct, is within the law. We do not torture," said Bush flatly denying the allegations.

The president went on to discuss efforts to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Panama.

In light of ongoing delays and objections to the U.S-led proposal for a hemispheric trade bloc, the Bush administration has been negotiating bilateral agreements with individual nations in the region.

We are in the midst of negotiating a free trade agreement with Panama," said Bush. "And I told the president this free-trade agreement is important for America, as he told me it's important for Panama."