British group claims U.S. has prison ships

LONDON (AP) - June 02, 2008 A director from the group Reprieve says the U.S. government has held suspects on a number of ships to keep them "as far as possible from the prying eyes of the media and lawyers."

The Navy says the claims that the military has been operating prison ships are "inaccurate and misleading." A Pentagon spokesman says a small number of prisoners have been held for short periods of time to allow officials access to them away from the battlefield.

Reprieve declined to release details, saying it plans to issue a report later this year. It says the allegations are based on evidence from the U.S. military, the Council of Europe and a former Guantanamo Bay detainee.