President Barack Obama may limit the countries to which the U.S. sends alleged terrorists to those with good human-rights records, and will be less inclined to hand prisoners over in general, to help make sure they are not tortured or abused, CIA Director Leon Panetta said Wednesday.

"If it''s someone we are interested in, there is no purpose to rendering anyone, particularly if it''s a high-value target," Panetta said in his first on-the-record meeting with reporters since his confirmation this month.

Panetta said he believes prisoners should only be handed over to countries that would have a legal interest in them — their home country or one where a prisoner has charges pending, for example.

Panetta made headlines during a congressional hearing earlier this month when he confirmed that Obama intended to continue rendering prisoners captured in the war on terrorism. He said the administration would get assurances first from the country that the prisoner would not be tortured or have his human rights violated.

That has long been U.S. policy. The Bush White House also said it required assurances of humane treatment from other governments. But some former prisoners subjected to the process during the Bush administration''s anti-terror war contend they were tortured. Proving that in court is difficult because evidence they are trying to use has been protected by the president''s state secret privilege.

Panetta said Wednesday that the Obama administration would "make very sure" that prisoners are not mistreated after they are rendered. Asked exactly how that would be done, Panetta was cryptic.