[JURIST] In a statement [text] released Friday, the US State Department announced that it has extended an invitation to Guantanamo Bay prison [JURIST news archive] to three UN human rights rapporteurs. State Department officials say "the invitation was extended in an effort to broaden understanding of US detention operations" and counter reports that detainees at the prison camp are treated inhumanely. The three rapporteurs invited to visit are experts in various areas, including torture and cruel and inhumane, and freedom of religion and faith. The invitation follows a June call to the US by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to open Gitmo to UN human rights experts after the US had ignored or rejected several previous requests [UN press release] by UN officials for visits. AFP has more.