Defense lawyers in the Sept. 11 war crimes proceedings at Guantanamo Bay are appealing to President Barack Obama to declassify details of the CIA’s secret interrogation program of terrorist suspects.

Lawyers for five men charged in the Sept. 11 attack say in a letter to the president that the government is keeping the program secret to cover up what they say was the torture of their clients. They say it is also “suppressing evidence” and making it harder for them to present a defense in legal proceedings against their clients at the U.S. base in Cuba.

The White House had no immediate comment on the letter released Friday. Previously, the chief prosecutor, Army Brig. Gen. Mark Martins, has said details of the program have been withheld to protect national security.

(AP)