A former CIA official has acknowledged the United States has sent terrorism suspects to other countries for interrogation.

The former head of the CIA's unit in charge of pursuing al-Qaida Mike Scheuer admitted in an interview aired Sunday some terrorism suspects have been sent to countries where they might have been tortured.

In comments aired in the same program, former British ambassador to Uzbekistan Craig Murray accused Washington of knowingly accepting information from suspects tortured in the central Asian nation.

Mr. Scheuer said a process known as rendition began during the Clinton administration. Under the process, officials say suspects have been sent to countries including Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The Bush administration has publicly stated the United States does not hand over people to countries that allow torture.