WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A group of U.S. Republican senators on Wednesday opposed an investigation into the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) interrogators who were accused of abusing terrorist suspects.

    In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Republican senators said that the investigation "could have a number of serious consequences, not just for the honorable members of the intelligence community, but also for the security of all Americans."

    A total of nine senators signed the letter, including Jon Kyl, the party's number two in the Senate, and Kit Bond, co-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

    "There is little doubt that further investigations and potential prosecutions of CIA officials would chill future intelligence activities," said the senators.

    U.S. media reports said earlier that the Justice Department would name a special prosecutor to investigate the case that CIA interrogators were suspected of abusing terrorist suspects during the Bush administration.

    "The intelligence community will be left to wonder whether actions taken today in the interest of national security will be subject to legal recriminations when the political winds shift," the letter added.

    Despite criticism against harsh techniques used by CIA interrogators on terrorist suspects, Republicans argued that interrogators did so just following directives and seeking valuable information to national security.

    Although some Democratic lawmakers called for a "truth and reconciliation" panel to investigate the case, President Barack Obama has not yet endorsed their calls so far.