The Prisoners of Guantanamo

Fifty accused terrorists have been transported to a prison at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Several of the former members of al Qaeda and the Taliban have vowed to kill Americans before they leave the naval base, according to a Marine general. But although the prisoners being shipped to Cuba are considered extremely dangerous, the U.S. is under pressure to ensure these prisoners are not denied all of their rights. Human rights groups and some British politicians have expressed concern about how the prisoners are being treated. There are British citizens among those being detained. The U.S. is not calling the detainees "prisoners of war," which means they are not granted the rights listed in the Geneva Conventions. But what rights do the men accused of being part of the worst terrorist group in history have? And could the U.S.'s treatment of the prisoners strain the international coalition against terror?

Guests:

Stephen Neff, Senior lecturer in International Law in Edinburgh

expert on international human rights law;
Menzies Campbell, Shadow Foreign Secretary, British Liberal Democrat Party;
Kim Gordon Bates, press officer, International Red Cross