Defence Minister Art Eggleton says Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan will turn over any prisoners they capture to the U.S., in spite of concerns the Americans may be violating prisoners' rights under the Geneva Conventions.

In recent days, pictures have emerged of Afghan prisoners, blindfolded and in shackles, being taken aboard U.S. planes and flown to a military prison camp in Guantanamo, Cuba.

INDEPTH: Prisoners of War

But Eggleton told a special parliamentary committee hearing on Thursday, that the U.S. isn't doing anything wrong.

"Do I believe that they are following the Geneva Conventions? Yes. I have no reason, I have no knowledge, or no reason to believe that they are not. "

Eggleton says the 750 Canadian troops going to Afghanistan will hand over to the U.S. any prisoners they capture. That drew criticism from one of Eggleton's fellow Liberals.

MP John Godfrey scolded the defence minister, saying the government should not be going along so easily with the U.S. on this issue.

"I see those hooded prisoners being put on planes to Cuba and I say to myself, 'Would we allow that if Canadian troops were taken?'"

Godfrey says Canada should not take part in the U.S.-led mission in Afghanistan until the government is certain prisoners' rights are not being violated.

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday, the U.S. will decide what to do with individual prisoners only after they have been interrogated.

He said some might be tried by a military tribunal, some in criminal courts and others turned over to their native countries for prosecution.

Rumsfeld suggested some considered especially dangerous might face indefinite detention before being tried.

Red Cross representatives arrived at the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo on Thursday, to investigate how the prisoners are being treated.