Judge orders Guantanamo tapes turned over

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Defense Department must turn over video of "forced cell extractions" of Guantanamo Bay inmates, a federal judge says.

U.S. District Judge John Bates said he has given the department three opportunities to explain why he should not get the video for examination and has received only "inconsistent and confusing" answers, Politico reported Thursday. His ruling Wednesday came in a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit brought by the families of Kuwaiti inmates.

The department said it could not block out images of military personnel, including guards at the detention center. Bates ordered three videos be given to the court by June 11 so he can determine whether that is true.

Bates served as a deputy to Ken Starr, independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation. He was appointed as a federal judge by President George W. Bush.