THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court prosecutors say that a preliminary probe indicates that members of the United States armed forces and the CIA may have committed war crimes by torturing detainees in Afghanistan.
The prosecution office said in a report issued late Monday that U.S. armed forces personnel "appear to have subjected at least 61 detained persons to torture" in Afghanistan, mainly in 2003-2004.
The report adds that CIA operatives may have tortured at least 27 detainees in Afghanistan and elsewhere mainly in the same time period.
Prosecutors say they will decide "imminently" whether to seek authorization to open a full-scale investigation in Afghanistan.
The United States is not a member of the court, but its citizens could face prosecution if they commit crimes in a country that is a member, such as Afghanistan.
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