The Bush administration says suspected terrorists who were held at secret CIA prisons overseas should not be allowed to discuss interrogation techniques used by their captors.

In court papers filed last week with a federal judge in Washington, the U.S. Justice Department says the detainees must be prevented from revealing the techniques, even to their attorneys, because they are among the nation's most sensitive secrets.    The administration argues the information could help terrorists develop tactics to counter the CIA's efforts to extract vital intelligence about potential terrorist attacks.

The administration filed the papers in response to efforts by a civil liberties group seeking access to one of 14 high-value terror suspects transferred to the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in September. 

The administration says detainees have no right to speak to an attorney under a new law signed by President Bush last month authorizing the use of military commissions to prosecute suspected terrorists. 

Some information for this report was provided by AP.