Congress grills CIA Chief

US CIA chief Michael Hayden faces a tough grilling from US lawmakers Tuesday over the destruction of interrogation tapes amid charges that the agency was covering up possible torture.

Hayden, who will testify to the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors, revealed last week that tapes made in 2002 were destroyed in 2005 at a time when Congress was investigating allegations of torture of terror suspects.

The tapes, made before Hayden became CIA chief, reportedly show harsh interrogation methods, including a simulated drowning technique called "waterboarding" that human rights groups, lawmakers and one former CIA official describe as torture.

Hayden has denied the use of torture and said the tapes, which served as an internal check on how interrogations were carried out, were destroyed to prevent any leak that could compromise the identity of CIA agents.

Since revelations over the tapes' destruction, the White House has stopped short of denying any involvement in the affair, while the Justice Department and the CIA's internal watchdog have opened a preliminary inquiry.

The affair raises difficult questions for President George W. Bush's administration, which has been criticised for its treatment of terror suspects and now faces charges from Democrats and human rights groups that it tried to cover up past abuse.

Washington, Tuesday, AFP