[Neo]

BBC NEWS | World | Middle East | Guantanamo Bay video released


A videotape of a detainee being questioned at the US prison camp in Guantanamo Bay has been released for the first time.

It shows 16-year-old Omar Khadr being asked by Canadian officials in 2003 about events leading up to his capture by US forces, Canadian media have said.

The Canadian citizen is accused of throwing a grenade that killed a US soldier in Afghanistan in 2002.

He is seen in a distressed state and complaining that he has been tortured.

The footage was made public by Mr Khadr's lawyers following a Supreme Court ruling in May that the Canadian authorities had to hand over key evidence against him to allow a full defence of the charges he is facing.

'Help me'

During the 10-minute video - filmed secretly through a ventilation shaft - Mr Khadr can be seen crying, his face buried in his hands, and pulling at his hair. He can be heard repeatedly chanting: "Help me."

I hope Canadians will be outraged to see the callous and disgraceful treatment of a Canadian youth

At one point he tells the foreign ministry official and agents from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) that he was tortured while being held at the US military detention centre at Bagram air base in Afghanistan.

He raises his orange shirt to show wounds and tells them: "You don't care about me."

Later, one of the officials tells Mr Khadr: "You know I'm not a doctor, but I think you're getting good medical care."

Mr Khadr, the only Westerner still held at the jail, was 15 when he was captured by US forces during a gun battle at a suspected al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan.

One of Mr Khadr's lawyers, Dennis Edney, said they hoped the video would cause an outcry in Canada and pressure Prime Minister Stephen Harper to demand the US not prosecute their client.

"I hope Canadians will be outraged to see the callous and disgraceful treatment of a Canadian youth," Mr Edney told the Toronto Star.

"Canadians should demand to know why they've been lied to."

Mr Harper reiterated last week that he would not interfere in Mr Khadr's military tribunal, due to begin at Guantanamo on 8 October.

Mr Khadr, now 21, faces multiple terrorism-related charges, the most serious of which is murder. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.

[DIYA_786]

Uffffff, poor kid

[Neo]

imagine when they captured him he was 15 n now he is turning 21.. 6 prime years of his life has been wasted...... shame really..

[HULK]

although it is not possible, but the real facts should be shared with the world whether he is guilty or not. And if he is guilty, then instead of torturing him, just follow the proper punishment he deserves......torturing and humiliating is not good.

Lucky for him that he is from the west, had it been a pakistani or an afghani or an arab citizen, no one would have known his where abouts..........