White House: Afghan prisoners taken in war are not Prisoners of War

Today the White House will announce that Taliban fighters among the Afghan war detainees would be afforded the full protection of the Geneva Conventions but would not be classified as prisoners of war.

Under the new presidential directive, al Qaeda fighters and other suspected terrorists will not be designated as fighters covered by the Geneva Conventions.

"They will continue to be treated well," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "There is no change in the protections they have been provided."