Afghanistan grants Canada access to detainees

By Randall Palmer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada signed an agreement with the Afghan government on Thursday allowing it unfettered access to any prisoners handed over by Canadian troops, a move that responds to allegations that Afghan authorities were abusing detainees.

The detainee issue has dominated Parliament for the last two weeks as opposition politicians accused the minority Conservative government of ignoring evidence of possible torture by the Afghan police.

Critics say Canadian soldiers could be guilty of war crimes because they transferred the detainees at a time when Ottawa was aware that Afghan authorities regularly tortured prisoners. International conventions prohibit a country from handing over prisoners if there is reason to suspect possible abuse.

Federal Court Judge Michael Kelen announced details of the agreement with Afghanistan on Thursday during a case brought by human rights groups demanding the transfers be halted immediately.

He told the court this was a major development that took the urgency out of deciding whether to block future transfers.

"It probably wouldn't have happened if this court hadn't been happening," he said of the agreement.

The deal provides for "full and unrestricted access" by Canadian officials to anyone transferred to Afghan authorities as long as they remain in custody. The Canadians can also interview prisoners in private.

The Globe and Mail newspaper said last week it had spoken to 30 detainees who alleged they had been tortured. The government initially dismissed the report as a rumour but later, as criticism mounted, said it would press Kabul for answers.