Value of Guantanamo Bay intelligence 'doubtful'

The value of intelligence obtained from Guantanamo Bay detainees has been cast into further doubt, with the release of new parts of a 2004 FBI memorandum, which describes information extracted by coercive means as "suspect at best."

The memo was originally made public last year in response to a Freedom of Information request from the American Civil Liberties Union.

But large parts were blacked out. They have now been released after pressure from senior Senate Democrats, during confirmation hearings last month for Michael Chertoff, the new head of the Homeland Security Department.

Between 2001 and 2003, Mr Chertoff was head of the criminal division at the Justice Department.

Mr Chertoff insisted he was not involved in deciding interrogation techniques at Guantanamo Bay.

But the memo shows that four of his senior aides held regular meetings with FBI officials, who criticised the methods as unproductive.

The latest disclosures will only add to pressure for the release of the some 550 inmates still being held at Guantanamo Bay.

But that in turn raises the vexed issue of 'rendition' whereby the US hands over terrorist suspects to their country of origin where - in places like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan - they faced further imprisonment and torture.

- INDEPENDENT