WASHINGTON The Central Intelligence Agency destroyed videotapes that it made in 2002 of two top terror suspects because it was afraid that keeping them “posed a security risk”, Michael Hayden, the Director, has told employees.

Mr Hayden's revelation caused a commotion in Congress, where members of the Senate Intelligence Committee pledged immediately to conduct a thorough review.

Mr Hayden said that House and Senate Intelligence Committee leaders had been informed of the existence of the tapes and the CIA's intention to destroy them. He also said that the CIA's internal watchdog watched the tapes in 2003 and verified that the practices were legal. The tapes were destroyed in 2005.

Jennifer Daskal, of Human Rights Watch, said that destroying the tapes was illegal. The CIA taped the interrogation of the first two suspects held. One, Abu Zubaydah, told officials about an alleged accomplice in the September 11, 2001, attacks, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh. Zubaydah's evidence also led authorities to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the purported mastermind of 9/11. (AP)

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