Afghan commission alleges US detainee abuse
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- An Afghan investigative commission accused the American military Saturday of abuse at its main prison in the country, repeating President Hamid Karzai's demand that the U.S. turn over all detainees to Afghan custody and saying anyone held without evidence should be freed.
The demands put the U.S. and the Afghan governments on a collision course in an issue that will decide the fate of hundreds of suspected Taliban and al-Qaida operators captured by American forces. Members of the Afghan investigation said U.S. officials told them that many of those militant suspects were taken based on intelligence that cannot be used in Afghan courts.
The escalating controversy and demands by Karzai appeared to be the most recent in a series of exercises in political brinksmanship, as the president tries to bolster his negotiating position ahead of renewed talks for a Strategic Partnership Document with America that will determine the U.S. role in Afghanistan after 2014, when most foreign troops are due to withdraw.
Among the conditions that Karzai has set is an end to night raids by international troops and complete Afghan control over detainees.
AP Jan 7, 11:14 AM EST http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AFGHANISTAN?SITE=KPUA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
