The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said yesterday it had started visiting Iraqi prisoners of war held by US-led forces at a camp near the southern Iraqi town of Umm Qasr.
Britain said that as of yesterday, about 8,000 prisoners of war had been taken.
The ICRC's Middle East chief, Mr Balthasar Staehelin, told a news conference that a 15-strong team, including a doctor and six interpreters, registered about 100 prisoners after talking with the camp commander for several hours and touring the facilities.
In keeping with ICRC practice, Mr Staehelin would not comment on the treatment of prisoners or the conditions of detention at the camp, which houses about 3,000 prisoners of war.
"The ICRC does not comment publicly but shares its findings with the detaining authorities with a view to achieving improvement if and when required," he said.
Mr Staehelin said ICRC staff were in constant contact with the Iraqi authorities and were hopeful that they would get the go-ahead to visit US and British POWs held by Iraqi forces.
Under the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which both sides have signed, the ICRC must be allowed to visit POWs.
"We have had clear indication that the ICRC will be granted access. Two ministers of the Iraqi government have publicly stated they will respect the Geneva Conventions. We hope these visits can take place as rapidly as possible but for the time being, no date has been set."
Last week al-Jazeera television broadcast images of what they said were captured British and US soldiers and airmen.
The Pentagon's official war casualty list includes 17 Americans missing in action and seven prisoners of war.
Mr Staehelin said the visit would last "a number of days" and involve group interviews, individual interviews and medical evaluations as well as attempts to re-establish contact between the POWs and their families. The ICRC will conduct regular follow-up visits, he said.