Washington, July 13 (ANI): Human Rights Watch has urged US President Barack Obama to order a criminal investigation into alleged torture tactics sanctioned by predecessor George W. Bush and senior figures in his administration.
The group claimed that there is 'overwhelming evidence' of torture ordered by Bush, the BBC reports.
In its 107-page report, HRW claimed there is substantial information warranting criminal investigations of Bush and his senior officials for ordering practises such as waterboarding, the use of secret CIA prisons and the transfer of detainees to countries where they were tortured.
"There are solid grounds to investigate [George] Bush, [former vice-president Dick] Cheney, [former defence secretary Donald] Rumsfeld, and [former CIA director George] Tenet for authorising torture and war crimes," said Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch's executive director.
"President Obama has treated torture as an unfortunate policy choice rather than a crime," said Roth.
"His decision to end abusive interrogation practices will remain easily reversible unless the legal prohibition against torture is clearly re-established," Roth added.
The Obama administration has launched inquiries into deaths in CIA custody and other "unauthorised actions".
But HRW argues these inquiries will not cover the activities, which were specifically authorized as legal by officials within the Bush administration. (ANI)
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