Bush side-steps torture question

President George W Bush said he ordered US officials to follow the law while interrogating suspected terrorists, but he side-stepped an opportunity to denounce the use of torture.

Bush’s comments came as a two-year-old US State Department document surfaced warning the White House that failing to apply international standards against torture could put US troops at risk.

“What I’ve authorised is that we stay within US law,” Bush told reporters at the close of the G-8 summit in Savannah, Georgia.

Asked if torture is ever justified, Bush replied, “Look, I’m going to say it one more time. … The instructions went out to our people to adhere to law. That ought to comfort you.”

Bush’s comments follow disclosure of US Justice Department memos to the White House advising the president that he could suspend international treaties prohibiting torture.

The US Justice Department also told the White House that US laws against torture do not apply to the war on terror.

Bush said he doesn’t recall seeing any of the US Justice Department advice.

Democrats say that by suggesting that Bush could legally authorise torture, the memos could have laid the legal foundation for Iraqi prisoner abuses at Abu Ghraib prison.