[JURIST] The US Department of Defense [official website] announced [press release] Friday that it has extended an invitation to special representative Anne-Marie Lizin [Wikipedia profile] of the 55-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [official website] to visit the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive], Cuba. Pentagon officials said Lizin, who has openly opposed the operation of the facility, would be permitted to speak with officials and observe prison operations but would be prohibited from meeting with any detainees[JURIST news archive], which the US claims is the responsibility of the International Committee of the Red Cross [official website]. It is uncertain if Lizin will accept the Pentagon's offer. United Nations human rights investigators declined a similar offer from Pentagon officials [JURIST report] last month because of the prohibition against meeting with the over 500 prisoners that remain there. Reuters has more.