The United States is giving more rights to prisoners at its Bagram military base in Afghanistan. Their situation will be evaluated annually and advisers will help them fight against their imprisonment.

About 600 prisoners of war are being held at the Bagram base north of Kabul. Some have been held for years without trial and there are rumours that torture takes place. Last week, US General Douglas Stone argued that most of the detainees should be released as they form no threat to the US.

photo:US soldier and Afghan suspects in 2002 (flickr/Mashley Morgan)