Teen Afghan Prisoners Claim Abuse at US Site

Miffed Afghan president accuses US of human rights abuses

(NEWSER) - Hamid Karzai today demanded that the US give up control of its prison in Bagram by the end of the month, over what his office called "many cases of violations of Afghan Constitution … and human rights." It's a familiar demand—Afghan officials announced they had a deal to transfer the prison in 2010, but it never happened. Analysts tell the AFP that Karzai may be bringing it up again because he's miffed that the Taliban apparently intends to hold peace talks without him . More»

(NEWSER) - Afghanistan’s prison system, including the American-run Bagram facility, needs a complete overhaul, according to a new US military review. The current system, which has a dreadful reputation with both human rights advocates and Afghan civilians, houses radical inmates with more moderate prisoners. The offensive in the southern part of the country is likely to increase the population of the already-jammed facilities, where extremists are busily recruiting petty criminals, the New York Times reports. More»

New Bagram complex marks intention to hold prisoners abroad for years to come

(NEWSER) - The Pentagon is planning to build a huge new detention complex in Afghanistan, reports the New York Times, acknowledging that the US expects to hold prisoners there for many years to come. The 40-acre, $60-million facility at Bagram Air Force Base will replace the existing makeshift prison in a converted aircraft hangar, where more than 600 prisoners are held in wire pens; some have been in the deteriorating facility as long as five years. More»

10 suicide vests seized at defense ministry building, officials say

(NEWSER) - The Afghan government has prevented what could have been the most devastating attack yet from its own forces, according to the New York Times . The Defense Ministry in Kabul went into total lockdown yesterday after more than a dozen soldiers were arrested for planning an attack on the building, and ten suicide vests were seized, the newspaper reports, citing anonymous Afghan and Western officials. More»

As Hamid Karzai tells NATO to clear out of all rural villages, bases

(NEWSER) - The Afghan Taliban suspended talks with the US "until they show willingness in carrying out their promises instead of wasting time," the group said in a statement today, according to al-Jazeera . The group complained of America's "alternating and ever-changing position" and said it would put off opening a political office in Doha, the Washington Post reports. Al-Jazeera has the full text of the Taliban statement here . More»