[JURIST] A group of six Democratic senators sent a letter to the US State Department Friday, urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice [official profile] to take more steps to ensure that detainees transferred out of Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] will not be subjected to torture. The letter, signed by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Barack Obama (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Russ Feingold (D-WI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) [official websites], expressed "grave concern" about allegations that detainees transferred to Tunisia and Libya had been subjected to torture or threats of torture, and called on the White House to develop an independent review process to ensure that detainees will not be sent to countries where they would likely face torture.

The letter comes at a time when the administration is facing increasing pressure to close down the Guantanamo facility [JURIST report]. The White House has denied any plans for imminent closure [JURIST report], but has been exploring how to relocate the detainees. The Washington Post has more.