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| Senators defy Bush on tribunals | Senators defy Bush on tribunals |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US Senate committee has defied President George W Bush by approving legislation to set up trials for foreign terrorism suspects. | A US Senate committee has defied President George W Bush by approving legislation to set up trials for foreign terrorism suspects. |
| The panel voted 15-9 to back the bill, which Mr Bush has vowed to block. | The panel voted 15-9 to back the bill, which Mr Bush has vowed to block. |
| Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell has backed Republicans opposing legislation sponsored by Mr Bush that would allow military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. | Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell has backed Republicans opposing legislation sponsored by Mr Bush that would allow military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. |
| Correspondents say the split within the party risks damaging its prospects in November's mid-term elections. | Correspondents say the split within the party risks damaging its prospects in November's mid-term elections. |
| Four Republican senators joined opposition Democrats on the Armed Services Committee to approve their measure instead of the tougher bill put forward by the president. | Four Republican senators joined opposition Democrats on the Armed Services Committee to approve their measure instead of the tougher bill put forward by the president. |
| The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism Colin Powell | |
| The senators argued that Mr Bush's proposals would effectively redefine the Geneva Conventions to allow harsh treatment of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba. | The senators argued that Mr Bush's proposals would effectively redefine the Geneva Conventions to allow harsh treatment of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba. |
| The rebels include three prominent senators, John McCain, John Warner and Lindsey Graham, who say Mr Bush's bill would do further damage to America's moral authority. | The rebels include three prominent senators, John McCain, John Warner and Lindsey Graham, who say Mr Bush's bill would do further damage to America's moral authority. |
| The three were joined by Mr Powell, who said in a letter that redefining the Geneva Conventions would put American troops at risk. | The three were joined by Mr Powell, who said in a letter that redefining the Geneva Conventions would put American troops at risk. |
| "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism," Mr Powell said. | "The world is beginning to doubt the moral basis of our fight against terrorism," Mr Powell said. |
| His comments were made public as President Bush made a rare personal visit to Congress in order to lobby on behalf of his bill. | His comments were made public as President Bush made a rare personal visit to Congress in order to lobby on behalf of his bill. |
| Speaking afterwards, Mr Bush said the stakes were high. | Speaking afterwards, Mr Bush said the stakes were high. |
| "If there's not clarity, if there's ambiguity... the programme won't go forward and the American people will be endangered," he said. | "If there's not clarity, if there's ambiguity... the programme won't go forward and the American people will be endangered," he said. |
| Trial plans | Trial plans |
| Congress has two weeks to reach a compromise before it goes into recess ahead of November's mid-term elections. | Congress has two weeks to reach a compromise before it goes into recess ahead of November's mid-term elections. |
| Correspondents say that if it does not, the status of Guantanamo inmates will remain in limbo - and the Republican split on national security may make it harder for candidates to campaign on an issue they had hoped would be a vote-winner. | Correspondents say that if it does not, the status of Guantanamo inmates will remain in limbo - and the Republican split on national security may make it harder for candidates to campaign on an issue they had hoped would be a vote-winner. |
| KEY SUSPECTS Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (above left): Alleged mastermind of 9/11; believed to be the number 3 al-Qaeda leader before he was captured in Pakistan in 2003Abu Zubaydah: Alleged link between Osama Bin Laden and many al-Qaeda cells before his capture in Pakistan in 2002Ramzi Binalshibh (above right): One of the alleged masterminds of 9/11Hambali (Riduan Isamuddin): Alleged senior leader in Jemaah Islamiah (JI); wanted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines in connection with blasts Profiles of the 14 suspects Quelling critics Q&A: Bush's announcement | KEY SUSPECTS Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (above left): Alleged mastermind of 9/11; believed to be the number 3 al-Qaeda leader before he was captured in Pakistan in 2003Abu Zubaydah: Alleged link between Osama Bin Laden and many al-Qaeda cells before his capture in Pakistan in 2002Ramzi Binalshibh (above right): One of the alleged masterminds of 9/11Hambali (Riduan Isamuddin): Alleged senior leader in Jemaah Islamiah (JI); wanted by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines in connection with blasts Profiles of the 14 suspects Quelling critics Q&A: Bush's announcement |
| The split comes a week after Mr Bush announced plans to resume military tribunals, which were stopped in June. | The split comes a week after Mr Bush announced plans to resume military tribunals, which were stopped in June. |
| If Congress approves Mr Bush's plan, the Pentagon's chief prosecutor said suspects including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the 11 September 2001 attacks, could go on trial within months. | If Congress approves Mr Bush's plan, the Pentagon's chief prosecutor said suspects including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged architect of the 11 September 2001 attacks, could go on trial within months. |
| The US Supreme Court has ruled that Mr Bush does not have the authority to order such trials, but left the way open for the president to seek Congressional approval for their resumption. | The US Supreme Court has ruled that Mr Bush does not have the authority to order such trials, but left the way open for the president to seek Congressional approval for their resumption. |
| Pre-trial hearings against 10 suspects at Guantanamo were under way when the Supreme Court issued its ruling against the tribunals. | Pre-trial hearings against 10 suspects at Guantanamo were under way when the Supreme Court issued its ruling against the tribunals. |
| It said the proceedings violated US and international law governing the treatment of prisoners. | It said the proceedings violated US and international law governing the treatment of prisoners. |
| Detainees at Guantanamo Bay are classified as enemy combatants, rather than prisoners-of-war, but the new guidelines will afford them protection under the Geneva Conventions. | Detainees at Guantanamo Bay are classified as enemy combatants, rather than prisoners-of-war, but the new guidelines will afford them protection under the Geneva Conventions. |