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Calls to reopen CIA abuse cases Calls to reopen CIA abuse cases
(about 2 hours later)
The US justice department is calling for some dozen prisoner abuse cases to be reopened, the New York Times says. The US justice department is calling for about a dozen prisoner abuse cases to be reopened, US media say.
The recommendation could lead to the prosecution of CIA employees and contractors over the treatment of terrorism suspects, the newspaper says. The recommendation could lead to the prosecution of CIA employees and contractors over the treatment of terrorism suspects, the reports say.
The call comes as justice officials are set to disclose previously censored parts of a report into detainee abuse. The call comes as justice officials are set to disclose previously censored parts of a key report on inmate abuse.
These show how electric drills and mock executions were used by CIA agents to elicit information, US media say. President Barack Obama is also now reported to have approved a new elite team to question key terror suspects.
A heavily censored version of the 2004 internal Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) report was released last year but in an almost meaningless form because so much remained classified, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Washington.
A federal judge ordered more details to be released on Monday, after a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union (Aclu).
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
According to US media, the report by the CIA's inspector general details how a gun and an electric drill were brought into an interrogation session of suspected USS Cole bomber and alleged al-Qaeda commander Rahim al-Nashiri in a bid to frighten him.
In another case, a gun was fired in another room to lead a detainee to think another suspect had been killed.
The US has banned harsh interrogation methods, including death threats.
Even under the Bush administration's controversial interpretation of the law, causing "severe mental pain" by the "threat of imminent death" was considered illegal.
Criminal inquiryCriminal inquiry
The call for the reopening of the prisoner abuse cases - mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan - was made by the US department of justice's ethics office, the New York Times reported. The call for the reopening of the prisoner abuse cases - mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan - was made by the US Department of Justice's ethics office, the New York Times reported.
The cases account for about half of those that were referred to the justice department by the CIA's inspector general but which were later closed. FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service
A CIA spokesman told the New York Times that the advice to reopen closed cases had not been sent to the agency. The cases account for about half of those that were referred to the justice department by the inspector general of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), but which were later closed.
Barack Obama has approved a new unit to question terrorism suspects
"Decisions on whether or not to pursue action in court were made after careful consideration by career prosecutors at the justice department. The CIA itself brought these matters - facts and allegations alike - to the department's attention," said the spokesman, Paul Gimigliano.
The recommendations to review some cases, which would reverse Bush administration policy, have been sent to US Attorney General Eric Holder.The recommendations to review some cases, which would reverse Bush administration policy, have been sent to US Attorney General Eric Holder.
He is set to announce soon whether he will appoint a prosecutor to investigate alleged abuse by CIA agents.He is set to announce soon whether he will appoint a prosecutor to investigate alleged abuse by CIA agents.
It is expected that he will go ahead with a new criminal inquiry.It is expected that he will go ahead with a new criminal inquiry.
Such a decision would pose problems for the CIA. It would also have political ramifications given President Barack Obama's desire to leave questions over the Bush administration's interrogation practices in the past, correspondents say. Such a decision would pose problems for the CIA.
In another development, Mr Obama has approved the creation of a new unit to question key terrorism suspects, the Washington Post reported. It would also have political ramifications given President Obama's desire to leave questions over the Bush administration's interrogation practices in the past, correspondents say.
The unit, called the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group, is to be composed of experts from several intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Harsh methods
It will be housed at the FBI but will be overseen by the national Security Council, giving the White House direct oversight, the paper reports. The department of justice's call came as the CIA inspector general prepared to unveil a fuller version of a key report on the handling of terror suspects.
A heavily censored version of the 2004 internal report was released last year, but in an almost meaningless form because so much remained classified, the BBC's Daniel Sandford reports from Washington.
Barack Obama has approved a new unit to question terrorism suspects
A federal judge ordered more details to be released on Monday, after a legal challenge by the American Civil Liberties Union (Aclu).
According to US media, the report by the inspector general details how a gun and an electric drill were brought into an interrogation session of suspected USS Cole bomber and alleged al-Qaeda commander Rahim al-Nashiri, in a bid to frighten him.
In another case, a gun was fired in another room to lead a detainee to think another suspect had been killed.
The US has banned harsh interrogation methods, including death threats.
Even under the Bush administration's controversial interpretation of the law, causing "severe mental pain" by the "threat of imminent death" was considered illegal.
Meanwhile, senior officials told US media on Monday that the new unit to question key terrorism suspects had been approved by President Obama.
It will be called the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group.
It is to be composed of experts from several intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
The group will be housed at the FBI but will be overseen by the national Security Council, giving the White House direct oversight, the Washington Post reported.
A US intelligence official told Associated Press news agency the CIA welcomed the move as it did want involvement in long-term detentions.