We were chained, say Afghans

THREE Afghans released after months of captivity at a US military base in Cuba yesterday said they were chained during interrogations but generally treated well

The men two of whom appeared to be in their late 70s were the first former detainees to speak about their arrest and detainment.

They spoke from a Kabul military hospital where they were convalescing, under the watch of Afghan security guards.

The men, Jan Mohammed, 35, Pakistani Mohammed Hagi Fiz, in his 70s, and Mohammed Sadiq, who claimed to be 90, were flown to Afghanistan on Sunday, and were yesterday handed to Interior Ministry officials.

It was not clear when they would be allowed to return home.

Pakistani Mohammed Saghir, 60, was also released from the Guantanamo Bay prison and returned to Pakistan.

He was being questioned by Pakistani authorities in Islamabad.

The Americans determined that the men no longer posed a threat.

The Afghan prisoners, looking frail and tired but in good spirits, said

they had had no contact with their families since being taken by the Americans from various places in Afghanistan.

They said they were chained during frequent interrogations, but were not mistreated and were allowed to practice their religion while in detention.

Mr Fiz said: "They interrogated us for hours at a time. They wanted to know, 'Where are you from? Are you a member of the Taliban? Did you support the Taliban? Were your relatives Taliban? Did the Taliban give you weapons?'."