GENEVA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- A UN top human rights official Thursday welcomed a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that the country's constitution extends to foreign detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that they have the right to challenge their detention in civilian courts.

    "The Supreme Court has sent a vitally important message that the protections afforded by fundamental human rights guarantees extend to these individuals and that effective remedies must be available to them," said Louise Arbour, the UN high commissioner for human rights.

    "After up to six years in detention in Guantanamo Bay without satisfactory review of the reasons for their detention, these detainees have the right to prompt review in the civilian courts," Arbour said in a statement.

    The high commissioner expressed hope that, now that these legalissues have been clearly and definitively settled, the civilian courts will be able to move promptly to assess the situation of individual detainees.