United States authorities today dropped a ban on al-Qaida suspects held at Camp X-Ray wearing turbans after prisoners went on hunger strike in protest.

Nearly 90 al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners at Camp X-Ray were still believed to be on hunger strike today, despite a concession by their American guards over the wearing of turbans.

New detainees from Afghanistan are today due to arrive at the US naval base detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where troops have built new chain-link cells to double the occupancy, military officials said.