The suspected Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters were moved out of Camp X-Ray over the weekend to Camp Delta.

Change of regime

New cells have metal beds, flushing toilets and sinks with running water The new cells are smaller than those at X-Ray which were 1.8m wide and 2.4m long New cells have solid walls - X-Ray's were made of wire mesh

Media were banned from covering the transfer, which was only announced by US officials on Monday.

Camp Delta can house 408 detainees but could be expanded to hold 2,000 as the US continues its post-11 September war on terror.

"This operation was done under very heavy security and I am pleased to announce that there were no accidents or injuries," said Brigadier General Rick Baccus, who runs the detention operation in Guantanamo Bay.

The officer gave no details of the transfer, saying only that it had been similar to the earlier operations to bring the men to Camp X-Ray.

Media who witnessed those first transfers saw the detainees being searched and manacled at the airstrip where they had arrived from Afghanistan before being bussed to the camp.

Brigadier General Baccus said journalists were not allowed to witness this weekend's transfer because of "operational security" concerns.

Out of sight

Journalists allowed to approach Camp Delta on Monday were kept at a distance of 180 metres (200 yards) and could only see the roof tops of the cells.

At X-Ray, inmates could constantly be seen in their distinctive orange prison overalls behind the razor fences.

They won't be completely cut off from communication but they are going to have to be more creative to communicate

Marine Captain Riccoh Player

As well as being smaller, the new cells are enclosed on three sides by walls, thus making it more difficult for the inmates to communicate with each other.

Green tarpaulin on the perimeter fences will block the inmates' view of the sea.

"They won't be completely cut off from communication, but they are going to have to be more creative to communicate," said Marine Captain Riccoh Player.

Camp Delta, built at a cost of $26m, is equipped with its own interrogation centre, the US military added.

As for Camp X-Ray, it is to remain standing for now.