US Attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales has come under fierce criticism for his role in Bush administration policies on the treatment of terror suspects. Gonzales appeared on Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing.

The former White House counsel has faced censure over a 2002 memo in which he argued the war on terror rendered the Geneva Convention's strict prohibitions against torture "obsolete".

Senate critics, including the committee's top democrat Senator Patrick Leahy, questioned his commitment to the Geneva Convention and protested his closeness to Bush.

"You know there are going to be times, there may well be times, when the Attorney General of the United States has to enforce the law and he can't be worried about friends or colleagues at the White House. His duty is to all Americans."

But Gonzales responded that as Attorney General he understood would "no longer represent only the White House".

"Justice properly understood cannot in my view be divorced from the individual. It always has a human dimension. And if confirmed as Attorney General, I pledge I will always remember that. With the consent of the Senate, I will represent no longer just the White House. I will represent the United States of America and its people. I understand the differences between the two roles."

Despite the opposition from Democrats, Gonzales' nomination was widely expected to be confirmed by the Republican-led Senate.

Source: CRI News