Pentagon to Probe Gitmo Beatings Claim

Marine Corps Lt. Col. Colby Vokey talks about the allegations of abuse at Guantanamo Bay during an interview with the Associated Press at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, Calif. Friday, Oct. 6, 2006. Vokey, who is the Marine Corps' defense coordinator for the western United States, has called for an investigation, saying the abuse alleged in the affidavit "is offensive and violates United States and international law." (AP Photo/Denis Poroy) (Denis Poroy - AP)

"One such story Bo told involved him taking a detainee by the head and hitting the detainee's head into the cell door. Bo said that his actions were known by others," the statement said. The sailor said he was never punished.

Other guards "also told their own stories of abuse towards the detainees" that included hitting them, denying them water and "removing privileges for no reason."

"About 5 others in the group admitted hitting detainees" and that included "punching in the face," the affidavit said.

Guantanamo was internationally condemned shortly after it opened more than four years ago when pictures captured prisoners kneeling, shackled and being herded into wire cages. That was followed by reports of prisoner abuse, heavy-handed interrogations, hunger strikes and suicides.

Military investigators said in July 2005 they confirmed abusive and degrading treatment of a suspected terrorist at Guantanamo Bay that included forcing him to wear a bra, dance with another man and behave like a dog.

However, the chief investigator, Air Force Lt. Gen. Randall M. Schmidt, said "no torture occurred" during the interrogation of Mohamed al-Qahtani, a Saudi who was captured in December 2001 along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

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Associated Press Writer Robert Jablon in Los Angeles contributed to this report.