Obama to release interrogation photos

WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- The Obama administration, in an agreement with the American Civil Liberties Union, said Thursday it will release photos of alleged abusive interrogations.

At least 44 photographs will be released May 28, the Los Angeles Times reported. While details of the photos have not been reported, some are said to show U.S. military personnel pointing weapons at suspected terrorists during questioning.

"This will constitute visual proof that, unlike the Bush administration's claim, the abuse was not confined to Abu Ghraib and was not aberrational," said Amrit Singh, an ACLU lawyer.

Other material the administration is considering releasing includes transcripts of interrogations, a report by the CIA inspector-general and background information on a Justice Department investigation.

President Barack Obama has said he does not want prosecutions of CIA officers or an investigation by a special commission, arguing either would inflame partisanship. He has been criticized by liberals who want action and by those who say the torture memos and other disclosures are hurting U.S. intelligence agencies.

Mark Lowenthal, a former senior advisor to former CIA Director George J. Tenet said Obama "is going to end up with a national clandestine service that will not be willing to do anything because they feel he will not be there for them when they need him."