New York, Aug 26 (DPA) The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, Tuesday welcomed the appointment of a US special prosecutor to investigate the alleged torture of terrorism suspects detained after the Sep 11, 2001, attacks.

Pillay also welcomed the release by Washington of Afghan national Mohammed Jawad from the prison facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was captured as a teenager in 2002.

'I warmly welcome this responsible decision by the US government to open a preliminary investigation,' Pillay said in a statement.

'I hope there is a swift examination of the various allegations of abuses made by former and current detainees in Guantanamo and other US-run prisons,' she said. 'If they are verified, the next step will involve accountability for anyone who has violated the law.