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April 10, 2009

CIA Head: Overseas Prisons Closed, Contractors Barred from Interrogations
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The CIA says it’s complied with President Obama’s order to cease
operating secret prisons overseas. On Thursday, CIA director Leon
Panetta said the prisons and black sites are no longer in use and
remaining sites will be decommissioned. Obama ordered the prisons’
closure in one of his first moves after taking office. Panetta says the
CIA hasn’t detained anyone since he took over in February but reiterated
the Obama administration still maintains the authority to do so.
Panetta, meanwhile, also announced the CIA will no longer allow private
contractors to interrogate prisoners. And he said the CIA has followed
Obama’s orders to impose interrogation rules adhering to the Army Field
Manual.



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