"It is far too early in the conflict to make any decision regarding the future of those individuals who have come under the control of coalition forces," said navy Lieutenant Commander Barbara Burfeind.

"But the US does not intend sending these EPWs (enemy prisoners of war) to Guantanamo," she added.

The prisoners, whether uniformed soldiers or paramilitary combattants, "will be taken to the rear of the battlefield" for a "vetting process," she said, confirming only that if any of the captured fighters could be indicted for war crimes they will be transferred out of the country.

The Washington Post reported Monday that US troops were holding more than 300 Iraqis in civilian clothing suspected of having links to the Saddam Fedayeen militia.

They want some of those detained sent to Guantanamo Bay, where the United States is accused of mistreating prisoners captured in Afghanistan.

The base holds 660 suspected Al Qaeda or Taliban fighters captured during the war to topple the Taliban regime in Kabul following the September 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

Eighteen who were repatriated last week told how they were kept in tiny cages and subjected to interrogations for more than a year to prove their innocence.

WAR.WIRE