[JURIST] The US government has again refused a UN demand to have unconditional access [JURIST report] for inspectors to Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainees. A State Department spokesman said Tuesday that the US would allow inspections, but that it would not agree to unfettered access for representatives from the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture [official website] during a visit scheduled for Dec. 6. The US has maintained that it has allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross [official website] access to the prison and that it has consulted with the governments of nationals detained at Guantanamo, which the government officials said were sufficient safeguards. The UN has threatened to cancel its visit to the facility unless it is allowed to meet with detainees. The State Department has a transcript of the press briefing. Angola Press has more.

Previously in JURIST's Paper Chase…

• UN inspectors call for unrestricted access to Guantanamo
• Rumsfeld defends prohibiting UN interviews with Guantanamo detainees
• UN investigators decline Gitmo invitation unless detainees can be interviewed
• UN human rights experts invited to Guantanamo