U.S. agrees to hand over control of detainees to Afghan government -- subject to veto

The memorandum of understanding officially hands over control of detainees to an Afghan official as of Friday, but allow for a six-month period of transition to full Afghan control of the American-held detainees, American officials said.

As a practical matter, American officials are expected to maintain day-to-day control over the 3,200 detainees, most of them suspected Taliban insurgents…

The move is a major concession to the Afghans, but the Americans will retain ultimate veto authority over the release of any insurgent detainee as long as American troops are in Afghanistan and will continue to monitor humane treatment of the prisoners, the American officials said.