Bush bans 'cruel and inhumane' interrogation techniques

US President George Bush signed an order today banning cruel and inhumane treatment, humiliation or denigration of prisoners’ religious beliefs from interrogation techniques for terrorist suspects.

The White House declined to say whether the CIA currently has a detention and interrogation programme, but said if it did, it must adhere to the guidelines outlined in the executive order. The order targets captured al Qaida terrorists who have information on attack plans or the whereabouts of the group’s senior leaders.