Afghan ex-detainees allege ill treatment

KABUL, Afghanistan, June 24 (UPI) -- Former terrorism detainees at the U.S. Bagram military base in Afghanistan say they were beaten, deprived of sleep and threatened with dogs.

Interviews by the BBC with 27 former inmates at Bagram -- none of whom was charged with anything and some of whom were released with apologies -- found widespread allegations of ill-treatment, accusations the U.S. military denies.

All detainees said they were accused by U.S. officials of belonging to al-Qaida or Taliban insurgent groups. The BBC reported among their repeated allegations were they were subjected to physical abuse and stress positions, exposed to excessive heat or cold or unbearably loud noise, being forced to disrobe in front of female soldiers and being threatened with death a gunpoint.

"They poured cold water on you in winter and hot water in summer. They used dogs against us. They put a pistol or a gun to your head and threatened you with death," a former detainee identified as Dr. Khandan told the BBC.

Lt. Col. Mark Wright, a spokesman for U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, insisted conditions at Bagram "meet international standards for care and custody."