Lawyers Seek Access to Guantanamo Clients

A group of human rights lawyers wrote to Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Thursday, demanding access to meet prisoners held at this U.S. naval base.

The New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights made the request to meet with 53 detainees, saying the action is required under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Monday.

The court ruled that those held at Guantanamo should be able to contest their detention in U.S. courts.

"I write to insist that we be permitted unfettered access to our clients," the group's legal director, Jeffrey Fogel, wrote in the letter.

He also said the U.S. government must inform the detainees of the Supreme Court decision and their rights under the ruling, and allow them to contact their families or others to hire lawyers.

There was no immediate response from the military . . . .

Details here from the AP via FindLaw.com.