Amnesty International has released a new report on alleged abuses by U.S. forces in the war on terror and called on the two main US presidential candidates to commit to working to prevent ill-treatment of detainees in U.S. custody.
The London-based human rights group's 200-page report draws heavily on information gathered in U.S. government investigations into prisoner abuse in Iraq and alleged mistreatment of prisoners in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
Amnesty says it does not wish to influence the U.S. election, noting that neither President Bush or his rival, Senator John Kerry, mentioned the issue in their debates.
But it says the prevention of torture and ill-treatment is primarily a matter of political will, and urges both men to commit to a commission of inquiry and comprehensive safeguards against torture and ill-treatment.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.