U.N. human rights officials in Geneva Thursday accused the United States of stalling a U.N. inspection of the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prison camp.
Several hundred Taliban and al-Qaida members are being held at the prison camp and recent reports have highlighted ill-treatment doled out by U.S. guards.
Four U.N. inspectors issued a statement Thursday saying their repeated requests to investigate allegations of human rights abuses have gone unanswered.
"The purpose of the visit would be to examine objectively the allegations first-hand and ascertain whether international human rights standards that are applicable in these particular circumstances are being upheld with respect to those detained persons," the statement said.
"The lack of a definitive answer (from the U.S. government) despite repeated requests suggests that the United States is not willing to cooperate with the U.N. human rights machinery on this issue."
The inspectors said they would welcome a change of heart by U.S. officials.
© Copyright 2005 by United Press International
