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Italian Prime Minister Denounces Torture at the Guantanamo Naval Base

Havana, Feb 24, 2006 (AIN) During an interview with Al Jazeera, the Arab radio and TV network, Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, supported the statements by international personalities who have called for the closure of the US detention center in Guantanamo.

The Italian official declared that the Naval Base in Guantanamo, illegally-occupied in Cuba by the US, along with Abu Ghraib and other secret penitentiaries around the world should be closed immediately. He also denounced the torture carried on the so-called ‘enemy combatants’ in those prisons, reports Granma newspaper.

PM Berlusconi gave assurances that Italian troops in Iraq will be withdrawn by the end of this year the latest. He said that the withdrawal of 20% of the Italian troops had already begun while the total withdrawal is being negotiated with the allies and the Iraqi government.

After US invasion of Iraq in March 2003, Italy has sent over 30.000 men to war, of whom 21 have been killed.

PM Berlusconi gave these statements during the electoral campaign for the legislative elections to take place on April 9 and when victory seems to be on the side of the opposition coalition Union, according to public opinion surveys.

 

 

 

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