Torture at Guantanamo

The UN has made a forceful public announcement regarding the status of the US operated Guantanamo Bay (Cuba) detention center. Here are some highlights from the Reuters article:

UN alleges torture at Guantanamo
Thu Feb 16, 2006 10:31 AM ET

By Richard Waddington
GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday faced mounting international calls to close its Guantanamo prison camp with U.N. investigators saying detainees there faced treatment amounting to torture.

In a 40-page report, which had been largely leaked, five United Nations special envoys said the United States was violating a host of human rights, including a ban on torture, arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial.

The report is likely to fuel new Arab anger over the treatment of Iraqi inmates at Baghdad's U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison after Australian TV broadcast more images of abuse there.

"The United States government should close the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities without further delay," the human rights' rapporteurs declared.

Until that happened, the U.S. government should "refrain from any practice amounting to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment", they added.
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Adding to pressure on Washington, the European Parliament was expected to back a call later on Thursday for Guantanamo to be closed and all prisoners to be treated in full accordance with international humanitarian law.
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