Guantanamo commander axed
2005-07-10 13:44
Washington - The top officer of the US detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has been removed from duty there, the US Navy said, stressing that the move was unrelated to "detainee operations".
Captain Leslie McCoy was relieved of his duties as commanding officer of the naval base Saturday after an investigation into allegations of inappropriate personnel and administrative management practices, the Navy said.
"His relief and reassignment are in no way related to Joint Task Force Guantanamo detainee operations," a Navy statement said.
McCoy, in charge of the controversial detention centre since March 2003, has been reassigned to Navy regional headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, according to the statement.
Guantanamo has been the focus of worldwide controversy following allegations that US forces abused those held there in an overzealous effort to prevent potential attacks against the United States like those of September 11, 2001.
Some US lawmakers want the site closed and others have called for an independent commission to investigate abuses, which US President George W Bush has rejected.
- AFP