Washington - US troops in Afghanistan have taken control of more prisoners, bringing to 62 the number of suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters held, the Pentagon said yesterday.
Many of the prisoners were captured by Pakistani troops after fleeing across the border with Afghanistan, and later transferred to US control, Pentagon spokeswoman Ms Victoria Clarke said.
Eight of the 62 are on board the US navy's amphibious assault ship Peleliu in the Gulf of Oman, including Mr John Walker Lindh, a US national caught fighting for the Taliban, an Australian and a Saudi. The United States is preparing to transfer the prisoners to the US naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, described by Defence Secretary Mr Donald Rumsfeld as the "least worse" choice.