Special Report: Obama's first 100 days in White House　

    WASHINGTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- President Barack Obama reiterated on Wednesday that waterboarding is a torture, saying that the practice is a mistake and violates U.S. ideals and values.

    "I believe that waterboarding was torture. And I think that whatever legal rationales were used, it was a mistake," Obama said at a prime time press conference in the White House to mark his 100th day in office.

    "What I've said -- and I will repeat -- is that waterboarding violates our ideals and our values. I do believe that it is torture," he said, responding a question whether the previous administration sanctioned torture by endorsing the use of waterboarding in interrogation of terrorist suspects.

    "I don't think that's just my opinion; that's the opinion of many who've examined the topic. And that's why I put an end to these practices," he said, noting that he is absolutely convinced it was the right thing to do.

    He said the U.S. could obtain information in other ways, in ways that were consistent with the values of the country.

    By preventing these kinds of "enhanced interrogation techniques, Obama said, the U.S. could make itself stronger and safer over the long term because the step would take away a critical tool that al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations have used to recruit supporters.

    "This is a decision that I'm very comfortable with. And I think the American people over time will recognize that it is better for us to stick to who we are, even when we're taking on an unscrupulous enemy," he said.