The first Red Cross visits to Iraqi prisoners of war (POW) held by US and British forces were welcomed today by the chairman of the Irish Red Cross.
Mr David Andrews said: "I am pleased to see that the rights of Prisoners Of War to visits by the Red Cross, as laid down by the Third Geneva Convention, are being upheld by coalition forces and I would urge those holding coalition prisoners to match this by allowing the Red Cross access to these coalition POWs".
He said the "Red Cross mandate under the Geneva Conventions is based on our universally recognised neutral and impartial work, which is in turn based on our Founding Principles".
Yesterday was the first in a series of visits to captured Iraqi soldiers. The Red Cross team, which included one doctor and six interpreters, visited a POW camp in southern Iraq. The visit is expected to resume today and last for several days.
Under the Third Geneva Convention the Red Cross has access to all POWs so the organisation can monitor their treatment and conditions.
The Red Cross does not comment publicly on treatment or conditions of detention. If improvements are required, it submits a report to the detaining authorities.
Negotiations are ongoing with the Iraqi authorities, with a view to Red Cross officials gaining access to captured US and British soldiers.