Rumsfeld 'suspends war prisoners' transfer'
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is reported to have suspended the transfer of Afghan war prisoners to the controversial Camp X-Ray compound in Cuba.
It was not immediately known how long the transfers to the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, where the US military is holding 158 Taliban and al-Qaida detainees in cages, would be put on hold. NBC News said they have been stopped because the base is almost full.
Rumsfeld ordered the suspension last night when it became clear that the facility was nearing its current capacity as construction on expanded facilities rushes ahead, NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reported from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon plans eventually to house as many as 2,000 prisoners at the base.
The conditions under which the prisoners are being held has drawn protests from a wide variety of international organisations and governments.
The European Union added its voice to demands from British MPs, the Dutch and German governments, Amnesty International and the Red Cross that the detainees be given prisoner-of-war status, subject to the Geneva Conventions.
The EU’s external relations commissioner, Chris Patten, said the West risked losing support in the fight against terrorism if it mistreated the prisoners.
Rumsfeld last night made a spirited defence of the way the prisoners are being treated: ‘‘It’s humane, it’s appropriate, and it is fully consistent with international conventions,’’ he said.
America’s priority, however, is stopping terrorist attacks by interrogating prisoners, not determining if they qualify as prisoners of war, he said.
‘‘That is pure, simple self-defence of the United States of America.’’
And, in a side-swipe at British critics, Rumsfeld said: ‘‘The allegations that have been made by many from a comfortable distance that the men and women in the US armed forces are somehow not properly treating the detainees under their charge are just plain false.
‘‘It is amazing the insight that parliamentarians can get from 5,000 miles away.
He said the detainees were receiving - warm showers, toiletries, water, clean clothes, blankets, regular, culturally appropriate meals, prayer mats and the right to practice their religions, in addition to modern medical care, writing materials and visits from the Red Cross.
Yousuf Bhailak, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, said the treatment of the prisoners was fuelling extremism.
‘‘Many people have actually been horrified at the abhorrent sight they have seen. It leads to further extremism,’’ he said.
‘‘Our youngsters are actually up in arms when they see these double standards.’’
The captives were ‘‘absolutely prisoners of war’’, Mr Bhailak told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
‘‘The Americans and the allies declared war on the people in Afghanistan, the al Qaida and the Taliban, and I think there is no question in my mind that the same status should be given to these prisoners,’’ he said.
‘‘Indeed, the International Committee of the Red Cross has the same opinion.’’
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday demonstrated his ‘‘contempt’’ for British MPs when he suggested they could know nothing about the captives’ treatment from 5,000 miles away, Mr Bhailak added.
