Three nonprofit groups plan to release a statement today that requests a presidential order to end some interrogation and detention practices, reports The New York Times.

Organized by the Center for Victims of Torture, Evangelicals for Human Rights, and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, a bipartisan group of more than 200 former government officials, retired generals, and religious leaders signed the document. They want the government to commit to only using methods the United States would find acceptable for other countries to use against American soldiers and citizens.

Further, the group seeks the end of both secret detentions and the transfer of prisoners to countries that use torture or cruel treatment.

Tony Fratto, a White House spokesman, said that President Bush signed an executive order last year outlawing torture while allowing the CIA to use some coercive methods; he also said that terrorists should not be treated the same way as American soldiers.

(Free registration is required to view this article.)