The human rights organisation said that the decision would fuel worldwide concern over accounts of torture and ill-treatment, religious humiliation and arbitrary detention emerging from the facility.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

'President Bush should close Guantánamo and be open about the USA’s shadowy network of detention centres around the globe. An independent investigation into US policies and practices on detention and interrogation, including torture and ill-treatment, would reassure the world that the US administration has nothing to hide.

'Guantánamo has become a symbol of abuse and represents a system of detention that is betraying the best US values as well as undermining international standards. This is not the time to talk about expanding Guantánamo camp. It is time to close Guantánamo and disclose the rest.'

Yesterday it was reported that a Halliburton company is to build a new $30 million detention facility and security fence at Guantanamo Bay where the United States is holding some 520 foreign nationals.

According to reports, a two-story prison, known as Detention Camp #6, will be built at Guantanamo to hold 220 prisoners.

The project is to be carried out by Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root Services of Arlington, Virginia.