Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Huh... Rice rethinks US torture policy

The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, has indicated a shift in US policy on harsh interrogation of prisoners, saying a ban on US personnel subjecting prisoners to cruelty extended to Americans working overseas.

"As a matter of US policy, the United States's obligations under the CAT [Convention Against Torture], which prohibits cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment - those obligations extend to US personnel wherever they are, whether they are in the United States or outside of the United States," Dr Rice said yesterday.

US officials said her comments - made during a trip to Ukraine and following an awkward meeting with the new German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Berlin - marked a policy shift towards the international convention on torture. It follows strong pressure from Europe and the US Congress.

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