No U.S. Criminal Charges Over Deaths Of CIA Detainees

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder ordered the investigation into the possible torture of detainees held in overseas "black sites."

U.S. authorities have declined to file criminal charges against CIA interrogators in connection with the case of two detainees who died while being held in secret prisons in foreign countries.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that the Justice Department had decided not to prosecute "because the admissible evidence would not be sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction beyond a reasonable doubt."

In August 2009, Holder ordered the investigation into the possible torture of detainees held in overseas "black sites" operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) during former President George W. Bush's administration.

The two alleged victims are believed to be Afghan and Iraqi citizens.

CIA Director David Petraeus sent a message to employees thanking them for cooperating with the investigation.

Based on reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP