UN human rights expert wins nod for US visit

GENEVA, Jan 16 (Reuters) A United Nations human rights expert said today he had won permission to visit the United States to evaluate US methods of dealing with people on terrorism charges.

Martin Scheinin, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, had formally requested a US visit in July and received an invitation in a letter dated December 20.

The Finnish jurist, who reports to the UN Human Rights Council, said he hoped to make the trip in late May.

''I intend to examine, in depth, issues regarding the detention, arrest and trial of terrorist suspects and the rights of victims of terrorism or persons negatively impacted by counter-terrorism measures,'' he said in a statement.

Scheinin has previously voiced concerns about Washington's decision to permit tough interrogation techniques and military trials for terrorism suspects, saying the Bush administration's laws set a dangerous international precedent.

He has also called for the closure of the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where hundreds of foreign terrorism suspects are being held in conditions some say violate international laws on torture and arbitrary detention.

US President George W Bush has acknowledged the camp -- which has held 770 captives, of whom only 10 been have been charged with crimes -- has hurt the American image abroad but has made no concrete moves to close it. Guantanamo Bay still houses about 395 prisoners suspected of al Qaeda and Taliban links, kept in maximum-security cells.

During his US visit, Scheinin said he aimed to meet government, judicial, security and law enforcement officials, as well as non-governmental groups.

Reuters SP RN1757