3 Guantanamo Inmates Commit Suicide

Three detainees at Guantanamo Bay apparently committed suicide amid protests of the U.S. military prison by inmates, the Defense Department said Saturday. They were the first reported deaths at the detention center for suspected terrorists.

Two men from Saudi Arabia and one from Yemen were found “unresponsive and not breathing in their cells” early Saturday, according to a statement from U.S. Southern Command. Attempts were made to revive the prisoners, but failed.

The United States is holding about 460 men on suspicion of links to al-Qaida and the Taliban at Guantanamo Bay, which has become a sore subject between President Bush and U.S. allies who otherwise are staunch supporters of his policies.

The Pentagon scheduled a briefing for later Saturday.

Bush, spending the weekend at Camp David, was notified of the incident, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the Pentagon was announcing the details. The State Department was consulting with the governments of the home countries of the three prisoners, whose names were not being released.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.