The United States’ top prosecutor has reportedly been told to re-open some cases of suspected prisoner abuse by the CIA.

Attorney-General Eric Holder was given the recommendation by a Justice Department ethics office. Holder is expected to announce this week whether he will appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged torture of terrorism suspects. The administration of George W. Bush closed the cases as part of a policy of not prosecuting CIA agents on prisoner abuse charges. The recommendation comes after details of a Justice department report on abuse were leaked to the US media. They include prisoners, mainly in Iraq and Afghanistan, being threatened with a gun and a power drill. Meanwhile, President Obama is reported to have set up a special interrogation unit to grill terrorism suspects. It will report directly to the White House, relieving the CIA of its interrogation duties.More about: CIA, USA

Copyright © 2012 euronews