Friday, 11 Apr, 2008 Politics

Bush administration officials including Vice President Dick Cheney approved harsh interrogation techniques for suspected terrorists, ABC News reported.

During the meetings, top officials were discussing Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogation methods, such as slapping, pushing, sleep deprivation or simulated drowning.

Following the first reports about the details of the meetings that took place on Wednesday, a former senior U.S. intelligence official confirmed the information on Thursday to the AP.

The meetings were held in the White House Situation Room and started right after the terrorists attack on September, 11. Sessions were attended by the National Security Council's Principals Committee, a selected team of senior officials that were advising president on the matters regarding national security policy. These members included National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Colin Powell and CIA Director George Tenet and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

Rumsfeld and Powell refused to comment on Tuesday about the interrogation program or the details of these discussions.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, District of Massachusetts, criticized the decision saying that "our country will continue to pay the price for his administration's renegade repudiation of the rule of law and fundamental human rights."

That was the first time when Bush administration officials uncovered the details of torture techniques on terror suspects.

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