Congress Bans Harsh Treatment of Suspects

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress sent President Bush a ban on harsh treatment of foreign terrorism suspects in U.S. custody and directed him to send lawmakers quarterly reports on Iraq as it completed a voluminous bill Wednesday that rebuffed some of his war policies.

The Senate approved the measure on a voice vote and Bush was considered certain to sign it. That would be a reversal for a White House that initially threatened to veto any bill limiting how the United States detains, interrogates or prosecutes terror suspects.

Bush reluctantly endorsed the ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign detainees last week in the face of mounting pressure from the Republican-controlled Congress and U.S. allies.

The chief sponsor, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., had the votes in both the House and Senate to override a veto despite early lobbying against the ban by Vice President Dick Cheney.

Good! Details here from the AP via the New York Times.