Washington | Mar 16

DPA - The International Committee of the Red Cross described the treatment of Guantanamo detainees as torture in a confidential report in 2007, according a report on Monday.

The group was allowed access to detainees at the US military prison in Cuba as part of its aid work and interviewed high profile detainees who detailed their abuse in harsh interrogations that the report called 'cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.'

The Red Cross report was published in the April 9 issue of the New York Review of Books and the Washington Post reported Monday that copies of the secret document had been given to the CIA and White House officials in 2007.

Human rights groups said the Red Cross assessment could have legal implications and provide the most authoritative account to date of claims that terrorist detainees were tortured in US custody.

The Red Cross told the Post it was unfortunate that the documents had been made public and said the information was confidential.

Secret Report Implies That U.S. Violated International Law ~ WaPo
The Report;New York Review of Books: US Torture: Voices from the Black Sites ~ Mark Danner