WASHINGTON -- January 20 -- On the occasion of his inauguration as President of the United States of America, Amnesty International has appealed to President Bush to make the eradication of torture and ill-treatment by US agents, and the USA’s full compliance with international law and standards for the treatment and trial of detainees, a hallmark of his second term in office.

In its appeal, Amnesty International sets out how the USA’s detention and interrogation policies in the "war on terror" have flouted hard-won principles of human rights. Individual detainees and their families have suffered, the rule of law has suffered, and the reputation of the USA has suffered. The USA’s policy and practice have set a bad example to those governments looking for justification to employ their own repressive conduct.

For a full copy of the appeal sent to President Bush, please see: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/ENGAMR510122005

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