Red Cross visits Iraqi prisoners of war

THE International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said yesterday it had begun visiting Iraqi prisoners of war held by US-led forces near the southern town of Umm Qasr.

No further details were immediately available and an ICRC spokesman said that there was no word yet on when the Swiss-based humanitarian group would get access to US or British prisoners held by Iraqi forces.

Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which both sides have signed, the ICRC must be allowed to visit prisoners of war.