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Criminal inquiry over CIA tapes Criminal inquiry over CIA tapes
(20 minutes later)
The US justice department is to launch a criminal investigation into the CIA's destruction of two videotapes of interrogations of al-Qaeda suspects. The US justice department is to launch a criminal investigation into the CIA's erasing of videotapes of interrogations of two al-Qaeda suspects.
It follows last month's preliminary joint inquiry with the CIA into whether a full investigation was necessary.It follows last month's preliminary joint inquiry with the CIA into whether a full investigation was necessary.
Critics have accused the CIA of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible torture and abuse of detainees.Critics have accused the CIA of a cover-up to hide evidence of possible torture and abuse of detainees.
The CIA says it destroyed the tapes as they no longer had "intelligence value" and were a security risk to its agents.The CIA says it destroyed the tapes as they no longer had "intelligence value" and were a security risk to its agents.
US Attorney General Michael Mukasey announced the move, appointing federal prosecutor John Durham to oversee the case.US Attorney General Michael Mukasey announced the move, appointing federal prosecutor John Durham to oversee the case.
In a statement he said: "The department's national security division has recommended, and I have concluded, that there is a basis for initiating a criminal investigation of this matter."In a statement he said: "The department's national security division has recommended, and I have concluded, that there is a basis for initiating a criminal investigation of this matter."
The tapes, which were made in 2002, reportedly contained images of interrogation techniques including water-boarding, which simulates drowning. The CIA denies torture. There has been no immediate comment by the CIA.
Interrogation methods
The hundreds of hours of footage, recorded in 2002, reportedly contained images of interrogation techniques including water-boarding, which simulates drowning.
President George W Bush has said that the US does not use torture but has not been specific about interrogation methods.
Congress are also examining exactly how and why the tapes came to be destroyed in 2005, and the CIA itself is looking into the issue.
The Bush administration has so far refused to co-operate with the congressional investigation.