Untitled Document
The United Nations says it has learned of serious allegations that the US is secretly
detaining terrorism suspects, notably on American military ships.
The special rapporteur on torture Manfred Nowak said the accusations were rumours
at this stage, but urged the US to co-operate in an investigation.
He said the UN wants lists of the places of detention and those held.
The comments come five days after the UN accused the US of stalling on their
requests to visit Guantanamo Bay.
Investigators have been asking to visit the jail in Cuba to carry out checks
into allegations of human rights abuse.
The UN said for over a year there had been no response to its requests, and
it would begin an inquiry into alleged abuses with or without US co-operation.
Washington had yet to grant their request, Mr Nowak said.
He told the BBC there were a number of allegations from reliable sources that
the US was holding terrorist suspects in secret places of detention, including
vessels abroad.
He said that according to the reports, the ships were believed to be in the
Indian Ocean.
Mr Nowak said the charges of secret detention camps were very serious, amounting
to enforced disappearances.
