Red Cross inspects US camp

There have been calls for better treatment of prisoners

A Red Cross team has arrived at the US military camp in Cuba to check on the conditions of al-Qaeda and Taleban prisoners, amid growing international concern over their treatment.

The US authorities have said from the start they would be happy to let the Red Cross inspect Camp X-Ray at the remote US naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

The president is satisfied that they are being treated as Americans would want people to be treated

White House spokesman

A four-member team, including a doctor, will meet US authorities on Thursday and is likely to start visiting the prisoners on Friday, said Red Cross spokesman Darcy Christen.

The team arrived hours after a fourth plane carrying another 30 Taleban and al-Qaeda prisoners landed.

There are now a total of 110 prisoners at the base.

Rights protection

Camp commander Brigadier-General Michael Lehnert insisted the captives are being treated humanely, but he added: "These are not nice people."

Click here for an infographic of a prisoner's cell

There have been calls for the US to respect the prisoners' rights.

UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson reminded the United States of their international obligations towards prisoners of war as specified in the Geneva Convention.

The US does not recognise the captives as prisoners of war, which would invoke the Geneva Convention, and is reserving the right to try them in military tribunals.

Robinson reminded the US of its legal obligations

But Mrs Robinson said that if there was a dispute on whether the captives were prisoners of war, a competent tribunal should be set up, in accordance with the provisions in the convention to decide their status.

But while stressing that conditions are humane, Brigadier-General Lehnert also highlighted security concerns.

"Several [prisoners] have publicly stated here their intent to kill an American before they leave Guantanamo Bay. We will not give them that satisfaction," he said.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer has said President Bush is satisfied with the prisoners' treatment.

Reassurances

Human rights groups and British parliamentarians have expressed concern at reports that prisoners were shackled and hooded as they were flown to the camp and that they are being held in tiny cages.

But British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had been assured that three Britons being held among the suspects are being treated "humanely".

"We have been in discussion with the Americans, the Americans have assured us that these people are indeed being humanely treated," he said.

The UK had been told the captives were being given regular exercise and showers, as well as being allowed to respect their religious traditions.

Human Rights Watch has described the detainees' temporary wire fence cells - which are partially open to the elements - as "a scandal".

Click here for more information on the prison conditions