CIA admits waterboarding suspects of terrorism

The CIA has for the first time publicly admitted using the controversial method of "waterboarding" on terror suspects. CIA head Michael Hayden told Congress it had only been used on three people, and not for the past five years. He said the technique had been used on high-profile al-Qaeda detainees including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Waterboarding, condemned as torture and illegal by critics, is an interrogation technique during which the detainee is put in fear of drowning. Mr Hayden was speaking as National Intelligence Director Mike McConnell presented his annual threat assessment.
Some critics describe the procedure as torture and Congress has been debating banning its use by the CIA. President Bush has threatened to veto such a bill.