Bush expects U.S. personnel to comply with laws on detainees, Bush condemns murder of South Korean hostage in Iraq, U.S. to work with Iraq on detainee security, Bush to discuss NATO troops in Iraq at summit

U.S. PERSONNEL EXPECTED TO COMPLY WITH LAWS, TREATIES ON DETAINEES

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters June 22 that President Bush expects all U.S. personnel to comply with laws and treaty obligations regarding detainees in the global war on terrorism.

"Let me make very clear the position of my government and our country. We do not condone torture. I have never ordered torture. I will never order torture," President Bush said.

"We have gone to great lengths to make sure that as we wage the global war on terrorism, the detainees are treated humanely and consistent with our values and consistent with our laws and consistent with our treaty obligations," McClellan said.

When asked about which military interrogation techniques are used on detainees at Guantanamo Bay, McClellan said, "Those are determinations that are made by the military, and we expect that those techniques fit within the policies that this president has instituted as we wage this war on terrorism."

There are 3,500 detainees currently held at a U.S. facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. According to the Defense Department, Guantanamo detainees include many rank-and-file jihadists who took up arms against the United States, as well as Taliban leaders and senior al Qaeda operatives and leaders.

"I would remind you that there are a number of individuals that are being detained at Guantanamo Bay who have been involved in plotting to carry out attacks on the United States or who are otherwise interested in harming American citizens," McClellan said, adding that significant intelligence had been obtained from detainees.

The spokesman noted, "If, [we determine,] based on interviews there, that we are holding someone that shouldn't be held, then we will make sure that that person is promptly released, and there have been individuals who have been released or otherwise transferred to their country of origin."

McClellan also said that the president has made it clear to the military that detainees at Guantanamo should be treated humanely and in a manner consistent with the Geneva Conventions.

When asked about the allegations of Iraqi prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison, the spokesman replied, "What happened at Abu Ghraib, it is wrong and it is appalling, and it is not representative of the vast majority of our men and women who are serving in the military and serving in Iraq, in Afghanistan and other places."

U.S. CONDEMNS MURDER OF SOUTH KOREAN HOSTAGE IN IRAQ

The president condemned the killing of a South Korean hostage as "barbaric" June 22 and said he remained confident that South Korea would go ahead with plans to send thousands of troops to Iraq.

According to news reports, an Iraqi militant group killed its South Korean hostage, Kim Sun-il June 22, just hours after a negotiator said the execution had been delayed and there were ongoing negotiations for the man's release. The militants had initially threatened to kill Kim June 21 unless South Korea canceled a troop deployment to Iraq.

South Korea rejected the demand, standing firm with plans to dispatch 3,000 soldiers starting in August.

"There simply is no justification for those kinds of atrocities that the terrorists carry out. We've seen some of the barbaric nature of the terrorists recently when it comes to an American citizen that was killed in Saudi Arabia, and it is a reminder of the true nature of the terrorists," McClellan said.

"The free world cannot be intimidated by the brutal actions of these barbaric people," Bush said.

U.S. TO WORK WITH IRAQ ON SECURITY FOR DETAINEES

The White House spokesman told reporters that, as the June 30 date for the transfer of power to the Iraqi interim government draws near, Iraqi government's responsibility over detainees is growing as "Iraqis are assuming more and more responsibility."

McClellan noted that U.S. concern over the Iraqi government's ability to safeguard these detainees, including former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, has led to plans for the United States to retain physical custody over many "high-profile" prisoners after the occupation ends.

Hussein was captured by U.S. troops in December 2003 in Iraq and has been detained in an undisclosed location since his capture, according to reports.

According to spokesman, the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546 "provides" for the United States to "continue to detain, if necessary, some individuals for imperative reasons of security."

The U.N. resolution, adopted unanimously June 8, authorizes the multinational force to seize and detain suspects for security reasons after June 30.

McClellan noted the United States intends to eventually transfer custody of the prisoners to the Iraqi government, saying, "The Iraqis have set up a special tribunal, and we will be transferring those prisoners to the interim government at the appropriate time so that they can face justice by the Iraqi people for the atrocities that they committed. "

The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) is working "very closely with the interim government on these issues," he said.

BUSH TO DISCUSS NATO TROOPS IN IRAQ AT SUMMIT

The White House spokesman said that President Bush plans to raise the topic of NATO troops in Iraq at the upcoming NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

"He [Bush] didn't expect more troops from NATO but that we would be talking about this very issue at the NATO summit, and there might be ways that they can be involved in helping with training of the Iraqi security forces," McClellan said.

The spokesman stated, "The forces that we want to increase in Iraq are Iraqi security forces. The Iraqi people are assuming more and more responsibility for their future, and that includes in the security area as well."

According to McClellan, 15 NATO countries currently have troops deployed in Iraq.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)