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CIA memo prosecutions 'possible' CIA memo prosecutions 'possible'
(10 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has left open the possibility of prosecuting officials who wrote CIA memos allowing harsh interrogation methods.US President Barack Obama has left open the possibility of prosecuting officials who wrote CIA memos allowing harsh interrogation methods.
It would be up to the attorney general whether to prosecute, Mr Obama said.It would be up to the attorney general whether to prosecute, Mr Obama said.
The memos detailed the range of techniques the CIA could use for questioning terror suspects.The memos detailed the range of techniques the CIA could use for questioning terror suspects.
Mr Obama had said he would not use anti-torture laws to prosecute CIA personnel who relied in good faith on legal opinions issued after 9/11.Mr Obama had said he would not use anti-torture laws to prosecute CIA personnel who relied in good faith on legal opinions issued after 9/11.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says the president's comments marked a change of tone amid growing pressure from the Democratic Party not to rule out potential prosecutions.
"With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws," Mr Obama said."With respect to those who formulated those legal decisions, I would say that that is going to be more of a decision for the attorney general within the parameters of various laws," Mr Obama said.
He also said he could support a congressional investigation of the issue if it was conducted in a bipartisan way.He also said he could support a congressional investigation of the issue if it was conducted in a bipartisan way.