A group of American lawmakers is heading to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to tour a U.S. military base where American forces are holding detained al-Qaida and Taleban fighters.

Delegation member Congressman Porter Goss, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told the Associated Press the point of today's (Friday's) visit is not to check on detention conditions -- despite sharp criticism from human rights groups and other countries.

Some of Washington's staunchest allies have protested the possibility that the 158 terrorism suspects from about 10 different countries could be tried by secret military tribunals empowered with the death penalty.

President Bush has brushed aside the criticism, and given assurances the detainees are being treated humanely. Washington considers the detainees "unlawful combatants," not "prisoners of war."

Britain wants three British detainees returned to Britain. And the lawyers for an Australian held at the Guantanamo base want him released to Australian officials.

Meanwhile, a Muslim chaplain brought in to tend to the spiritual needs of the captives led the first calls to prayer Thursday. After prayers, U.S. officials say the chaplain made contact with the detainees, who are using the 400 copies of the Koran that the Pentagon says have been delivered to the base.

(ap,reu,cnn)

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