A senior American official has described the suicides of three detainees at the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as a 'good public relations move to draw attention'.
Colleen Graffy said the deaths were part of a strategy and 'a tactic to further the jihadi cause', but taking their own lives was unnecessary.
The deaths were described 'not an act of desperation but an act of asymmetric warfare' by US Navy Rear Admiral Harry Harris, commander of the camp.
The US military is continuing to investigate the deaths of the three men.
Two of the men were identified as Saudi. One was Yemeni. They are the first prisoners to die at the camp since it was opened four and a half years ago.
Since then there have been a total of 41 suicide attempts and a rolling hunger strike with 18 at the camp currently refusing rations.
Three weeks ago prisoners attacked camp guards with pieces of furniture in one of the most serious incidents to have occurred there.
Around 460 men remain at the camp with just 10 charged with crimes under a military tribunal system.
The case of one inmate, who is seeking to have his trial carried out in open court, is currently being considered by the US Supreme Court.
