U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is defending a decision not to permit United Nations inspectors to speak with terror suspects at the Guantanamo Bay prison.
On Monday, three U.N. inspectors rejected a U.S. offer to visit the facility in Cuba, because they would not be allowed to interview detainees.
At a Pentagon news conference Tuesday, Mr. Rumsfeld said it would not be appropriate for the U.N. experts to get the same access given to inspectors from the Red Cross.
About 24 Guantanamo prisoners are being force-fed in response to a hunger strike. Mr. Rumsfeld said the detainees have been trying to capture media attention, and have succeeded.
Human rights groups have voiced concern about allegations of physical and psychological abuse of some of the detainees.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
