The United States bans its personnel from using any cruel or degrading practices on prisoners at home or abroad, visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday in Kiev.

Rice made the remark when explaining U.S. policy on harsh interrogation methods to the United Nations Convention against Torture.

She said U.S. international treaty obligations on cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees applies to U.S. personnel in and outside the United States.

Her remarks came as pressure from both Europe and the U.S. Congress mounted over whether U.S. personnel could adopt harsh means in interrogating prisoners at home or abroad.

Source: Xinhua