Shaved prisoners arrive in Cuba

The first group of captured Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners will arrive at a heavily-fortified US naval base in Cuba today.

Around 20 fighters, hooded and chained, headed for Guantanamo after leaving Kandahar earlier yesterday for the 8,000-mile trip.

The prisoners, wearing orange jumpsuits, have been chained to their seats with reports that they had been sedated to prevent trouble. Their beards have been shaved off to make it easier for their captors to feed them.

Amnesty International has objected to conditions at the Guantanamo base, where the prisoners will initially be kept in outdoor cells.

Shortly after the C17 transport plane carrying the detainees left Kandahar the airport came under fire. US forces reacted and a firefight ended after half an hour with no reports of casualties.

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