Treatment of detainees at Guantanamo getting more scrutiny

by Lynne Sladky
Associated Press Writer

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - The treatment of detained terrorist suspects from the Afghanistan war is getting more scrutiny from the international community.

A federal judge in Los Angeles, meanwhile, delayed ruling on a petition that alleges the prisoners are being held in violation of the Geneva Conventions and U.S. Constitution.

U.S. District Judge A. Howard Matz said he had "grave doubts" about his jurisdiction and gave federal prosecutors until Jan. 31 to file papers calling for dismissal of the petition on jurisdictional grounds. The judge said he will hold another hearing Feb. 14. Federal attorneys said they would file for dismissal of the case.

The court challenge of the detention of al-Qaida suspects at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base demanded the U.S. government bring the suspects before a court and define the charges against them. A coalition that includes former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and other prominent civil rights advocates brought the suit.

The European Union and Germany yesterday joined a chorus of protests from the Netherlands, British legislators, Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross demanding the detainees be given prisoner-of-war status subject to the Geneva Conventions.

Sweden called Monday for fair treatment for a Swedish captive. Denmark said one of its citizens also was among the prisoners detained by the United States - though it did not specify whether he was being held in Afghanistan or Cuba - and said all prisoners should be treated with respect.