Criminal probe into CIA tapes launched

The US Justice Department said on Wednesday it had launched a criminal investigation into the CIA’s destruction of videotapes showing the harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects.

“There is a basis for initiating a criminal investigation of this matter, and I have taken steps to begin that investigation,” said Attorney General Michael Mukasey.The Central Intelligence Agency last month disclosed that in 2005 it destroyed hundreds of hours of tapes from the interrogations of two al-Qaeda suspects, prompting an outcry from Democrats, human rights activists and some legal experts.The interrogations, which took place in 2002, were believed to have included a form of simulated drowning known as waterboarding, condemned internationally as torture.

President Bush has said the USdoes not torture but has declined to be specific about interrogation methods.