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US set to release 'torture' memos Obama publishes 'torture' memos
(about 1 hour later)
The US Justice Department is set to publish four secret memos detailing the legal justification for Bush-era CIA interrogation methods. The US has published four secret memos detailing legal justification for the Bush-era CIA interrogation programme.
The release of the memos stems from a request by civil rights group the ACLU. Critics of the programme say the methods used amounted to torture.
The request has sparked fierce debate within the US government, with reports suggesting some in the CIA want parts of the memos to be blacked out. President Obama has also issued a statement guaranteeing that no CIA employees will be prosecuted for their role in the interrogation programme.
They fear full disclosure could trigger lawsuits against agents and embarrass allies, the New York Times said. Some in the CIA wanted parts of the memos to be blacked out, fearing full disclosure could trigger lawsuits against agents, reports suggest.
The release of the memos stems from a request by civil rights group the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Harsh techniquesHarsh techniques
Three of the documents were written in 2005 by the then acting head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Stephen G. Bradbury. Three of the documents were written in May 2005 by the then acting head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), Stephen G. Bradbury.
Although they have never been made public, the New York Times reported in 2007 that the memos gave legal support for the combined use of various coercive techniques, and concluded that the CIA's methods were not "cruel, inhuman or degrading" under international law. They gave legal support for the combined use of various coercive techniques, and concluded that the CIA's methods were not "cruel, inhuman or degrading" under international law.
Withholding this information would be completely inconsistent with the Obama administration's promise of transparency Jameel Jaffer, ACLU Those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice... will not be subject to prosecution Barack Obama
The fourth document, dating from 1 August 2002, was written by OLC lawyer John Yoo and signed by his colleague Jay Bybee.The fourth document, dating from 1 August 2002, was written by OLC lawyer John Yoo and signed by his colleague Jay Bybee.
It is thought to contain legal authorisation for a list of specific harsh interrogation techniques. It contained legal authorisation for a list of specific harsh interrogation techniques.
Critics of the Bush administration's interrogation programme say the memos are likely to provide evidence that many of the methods authorised amount to torture under US and international law. Critics of the Bush administration's interrogation programme say the memos provide evidence that many of the methods authorised amount to torture under US and international law.
There has been a rift within the Obama administration about how much of the documents should be made available to the public or how much they should be redacted. There was a rift within the Obama administration about whether the documents should be made available to the public in full or should be partially redacted.
Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Counsel Greg Craig have been vocal supporters of full publication of the memos, according to reports. Attorney General Eric Holder and White House Counsel Greg Craig were vocal supporters of full publication of the memos, according to reports.
But CIA chief Leon Panetta and Deputy Director John Brennan have been calling for portions of the memos to be blacked out, or redacted, the New York Times has reported. But CIA chief Leon Panetta and Deputy Director John Brennan called for portions of the memos to be blacked out, or redacted, the New York Times reported.
They fear that full disclosure would set a precedent for future exposure of intelligence sources and methods, and would threaten America's relationship with allied intelligence services. They were concerned that full disclosure would set a precedent for future exposure of intelligence sources and methods, and would threaten America's relationship with allied intelligence services.
But civil liberties campaigners say anything short of full publication will undermine President Obama's attempts to paint himself as more transparent than his predecessor. But civil liberties campaigners said anything short of full publication would undermine President Obama's attempts to paint himself as more transparent than his predecessor.
"Withholding this information would be completely inconsistent with the Obama administration's promise of transparency and its commitment to turn the page on the abuses of the last eight years," said Jameel Jaffer, Director of the ACLU National Security Project. Announcing the publication of the memos, Mr Obama said: "I believe that exceptional circumstances surround these memos and require their release."
"Withholding these memos would only serve to deny facts that have been in the public domain for some time," he explained.
But he also gave an assurance that "those who carried out their duties relying in good faith upon legal advice from the Department of Justice... will not be subject to prosecution."
During his first week in office, President Obama issued an executive order officially outlawing the use of harsh interrogation techniques by the CIA, and forcing the agency to adhere to standards laid out in the US Army Field Manual.During his first week in office, President Obama issued an executive order officially outlawing the use of harsh interrogation techniques by the CIA, and forcing the agency to adhere to standards laid out in the US Army Field Manual.