US to affirm that UN torture ban applies overseas

The U.S. is telling the United Nations that it now considers a ban against torture to apply to prisoners held by the U.S. overseas.

Under the Bush administration, the U.S. interpreted the U.N. Convention Against Torture to apply only within U.S. borders. That meant the U.S. didn't have to follow the ban on cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment at places like the Guantanamo Bay prison or aboard U.S. ships.

President Barack Obama took a different approach and banned certain interrogation methods after taking office. But until now, the U.S. hadn't formally conveyed that policy to the U.N. body monitoring compliance with the treaty.

The White House says the U.S. will tell the U.N. this week that it interprets the ban as applying anywhere under U.S. government control, including Guantanamo Bay.