Thursday, June 9 2005 07:54 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: American President George W Bush has said he was ready to examine alternatives to the US camp for 'war on terror' detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba but defended the treatment of prisoners there.

Asked in a US television interview whether the camp should be shut down, Bush said yesterday, (Jun 8, 2005) "We're exploring all alternatives as to how best to do the main objective, which is to protect America. What we don't want to do is let somebody out that comes back and harms us."

The United States has faced international criticism of the detention centre at its naval base in Cuba since it was opened in early 2002 to house alleged taliban and al-Qaeda militants. There are currently about 540 inmates from 40 countries there.

Controversy has risen in recent weeks over allegations about the abuse of Muslim holy books there and former president Jimmy Carter on Tuesday (Jun 7, 2005) joined US politicians who have called for Guantanamo's closure.

Bush insisted prisoners at the camp were treated humanely.

The President told Fox News television, "I first of all want to assure the American people that these prisoners are being treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

"I say in accordance with, because these weren't normal military-type fighters. They had no uniforms. They had no Government structure."

"These were terrorists, swept up off the battlefield in a place like Afghanistan, for example. And it's in our nation's interest that we learn a lot about those people that are still in detention, because we're still trying to find out how to better protect our country."