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US Navy admiral to review Guantanamo detention conditions

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Vice-chief of US Naval Operations Admiral Patrick Walsh will lead the assessment of operations at the Guantanamo Bay military prison, according to a Tuesday announcement by Pentagon Press Secretary, Geoff Morrell. Walsh was selected by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, to comply with President Barack Obama's January 22 executive order to close the facility within one year. Morrell affirmed that detainee conditions in Guantanamo "have been in compliance with Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions for some time and are still so," but that Pentagon officials "take this task very seriously." The review will be completed in 30 days. Obama has also issued an executive order banning the use of torture in interrogations and shutting down CIA secret detention facilities. Last week, four human rights groups that were granted observer status in August 2004 urged Obama to permit them full access to the detention center to asses the conditions and make recommendations, since they have not yet been permitted so.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on February 04, 2009 (boomark / email).