12 tapes destroyed by CIA depicted enhanced interrogation tech

The Obama administration has informed a New York federal court that as many as 12 tapes destroyed by the CIA during the Bush era depicted the so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques".

Earlier this week, the CIA had acknowledged of having destroyed as many as 92 tapes of interrogation. This candid acknowledgment before a New York court came in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

"This new information only underscores the need for full and immediate disclosure of the CIA's illegal interrogation methods," said ACLU staff attorney Amrit Singh, who is the
youngest daughter of prime minister Manmohan Singh.

"The time has come for the CIA to be held accountable for flouting the rule of law," Singh said in a statement. 

In the documents filed in the federal court, the government announced that it would produce a complete list of summaries, transcripts or memoranda related to the videotapes by March 20.

"The government is needlessly withholding information about these tapes from the public, despite the fact that the CIA's use of torture, including water boarding, is no secret," Singh said, adding that an inventory of the tapes provided to the court was nearly redacted.

In December 2007, the ACLU filed a motion to hold the CIA in contempt for its destruction of the tapes in violation of a court order requiring the agency to produce or identify all records.