The United Nations has told the US that it must set a better example in combating torture and cannot hide behind intelligence activities in refusing to discuss violations of the global ban on prisoner abuse in the war on terror.

The UN today grilled the United States on its compliance with the global ban on torture for the first time since Washington declared war on terrorists, rejecting the US refusal to discuss intelligence matters like alleged secret CIA prisons and flights transferring suspects for possible torture in other countries.