US identifies Guantanamo detainees

The Pentagon has released the names and home countries of many detainees who have been held at Guantanamo Bay prison for up to four years.

A Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by The Associated Press forced the Department of Defence on Friday to turn over some 5,000 pages of transcripts from closed-door hearings on the detainees, most of whom were accused of having links to the Taliban or al Qaida.

The Pentagon released the documents after a federal judge rejected arguments by the administration of US President George Bush that releasing names, home countries and other information would violate the detainees' privacy and could endanger them and their families.

About 490 prisoners are being held at Guantanamo Bay, but only 10 of them have been charged with a crime.