US:An inquiry has been launched after it emerged that videotaped interrogations of two suspected terrorists were destroyed by the US Central Intelligence Agency.
The review by the CIA's internal watchdog and the US justice department will determine whether a full investigation is warranted.
"I welcome this inquiry and the CIA will co-operate fully," CIA director Mike Hayden said in a statement. "I welcome it as an opportunity to address questions that have arisen over the destruction back in 2005 of videotapes."
The House intelligence committee is starting its own inquiry next week. It will investigate not only why the tapes were destroyed and why Congress was not notified, but also the interrogation methods that "if released, had the potential to do such grave damage to the United States of America", said chairman Silvestre Reyes yesterday.
"This administration cannot be trusted to police itself," said Mr Reyes, a Democrat.
The Senate intelligence committee is also investigating.
Mr Hayden told agency employees on Thursday that the recordings were destroyed out of fear the tapes would be leaked and would reveal the identities of interrogators.
He said the sessions were videotaped to provide an added layer of legal protection for interrogators using new, harsh methods authorised by US president George W Bush.