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NATO stops Afghan prison transfers after abuse allegations

By the CNN Wire Staff
An Afghan National Army soldier guards a suspected Taliban insurgent captured by U.S. forces in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on August 8.
An Afghan National Army soldier guards a suspected Taliban insurgent captured by U.S. forces in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar on August 8.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • NATO has suspended the transfer of inmates to Afghan prisons after abuse allegations
  • An unreleased U.N. report claims inmates tortured by Afghan guards at several prisons

(CNN) -- NATO has suspended the transfer of inmates to Afghan authorities in the wake of allegations of abuse at several Afghanistan prisons.

The move comes after news leaked of an unreleased U.N. report of prisoners at nine Afghan facilities who have been tortured at the hands of Afghan prison guards with electric shocks, beatings and threats of sexual assault.

"We are working on a report on the mistreatment of those in detention and that report is currently being finalized," said Dan McNorton, a spokesperson for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, who declined to discuss specifics of the report.

The draft report of abuses "has been shared with the Afghan government, and our understanding is that they are taking it very seriously," McNorton said. "Our understanding is they will take remedial actions."

The Guardian newspaper, citing British defense officials, said the directive to end prison transfers to nine prisons was issued this week.

"With appropriate caution, ISAF [NATO's International Security Assistant Force] has taken the prudent measure to suspend detainee transfer to certain facilities," a NATO official said.