Washington ? Sen. John McCain said Sunday that America’s image abroad could be ruined if Congress doesn’t ban the torture of prisoners in U.S. custody.

McCain, who was tortured during the Vietnam War, is the leading supporter of a provision banning such inhumane treatment.

White House officials, however, have threatened a presidential veto of any bill with restrictions on handling detainees, saying it would limit the president’s ability to protect Americans and prevent a terrorist attack.

“If we are viewed as a country that engages in torture … any possible information we might be able to gain is far counterbalanced by (the negative) effect of public opinion,” McCain, R-Ariz., said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

McCain said he hopes to reach a compromise with the White House.

Stephen Hadley, Bush’s national security adviser, said on CNN’s “Late Edition” that the White House was working with McCain and other lawmakers to come up with a compromise.