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US President George W. Bush on Thursday accepted a prominent senator's call to ban torture and abuse of foreigners detained in the war on terror.
Reversing his previous position on the issue, Bush agreed with Republican Senator John McCain to ban torture during their meeting in the White House.
Bush said the agreement will "make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention of torture, whether it be here at home or abroad."
"We've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists," McCain said.
Only weeks ago, the White House had threatened a veto if the torture ban is included in legislation sent to the president's desk, and US Vice President Dick Cheney had made an personal appeal to all Republican senators to give an exemption to the interrogators of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
However, with the congressional sentiment now overwhelmingly in favor of the ban, Bush had to change course.
McCain said he hoped the Congress will pass an amendment which includes his proposal on banning torture within 24 hour following the deal he reached with Bush.
The amendment prohibits "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" of anyone in US custody, regardless of where they are held.
It also requires that US service members follow procedures in the Army Field Manual during interrogations of prisoners in Defense Department facilities.
Earlier this year, the Senate included the amendment in two defense bills, including a must-pass spending bill which funds the Iraq war.
However, the House omitted them from its versions of the two defense bills, and the bills have been stalled.
Negotiations on the bills intensified this week, with Congress under pressure to approve at least the spending bill before adjourning for the year.
Supporters of the amendment said it will help to clarify current anti-torture laws considering abuses at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and allegations of misconduct by US troops at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
They also said that it will help the United States repair an image tarnished by the prisoner abuse scandal.
(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2005)
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