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Bush defends US anti-terror bills Bush defends US tribunal plan
(about 1 hour later)
US President George W Bush has defended anti-terror legislation a day after it was rejected by a US senate committee. US President George W Bush has strongly defended controversial proposals on the treatment and trial of detainees.
He said the two bills were vital to the protection of the country and urged Congress to act "promptly and wisely". He wants to redefine part of the Geneva Conventions covering the treatment of enemy detainees and to hold trials in which evidence is kept from defendants.
Republicans voted to oppose a measure sponsored by Mr Bush that would allow military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay. Several top members of his own party, including ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell, have criticised the measures.
Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell backed the move and said the world was beginning to doubt "the moral basis of our fight against terrorism". But Mr Bush said they were essential in the war on terrorism and to protect the US against attack.
Mr Bush said his anti-terror measures were "vital tools" in efforts to protect the country. He urged Congress to act "promptly and wisely" to back his measures.
"Were it not for this programme our intelligence community believes that al-Qaeda and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland," he told reporters at a White House briefing."Were it not for this programme our intelligence community believes that al-Qaeda and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland," he told reporters at a White House briefing.
Mr Bush said he would work with "members of both parties to get legislation that works out of the Congress".
But he warned that "time is running out", and urged Congress to pass a "clear law with clear guidelines" before it goes into recess in two weeks, ahead of November's mid-term elections.
Milder bill
Four Republican senators joined opposition Democrats on the Armed Services Committee on Thursday to endorse a milder bill put forward by Republican John McCain.
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.
They said their own version would provide fair trials and meet the demands of the US Supreme Court, that struck down Mr Bush's original plan.
The senators are also worried about White House efforts to reinterpret Article Three of the Geneva Conventions in order to allow tougher interrogations of suspects.
The article in question governs detainee treatment; banning torture, violence and degrading treatment - and demands that the sick and wounded are cared for.
The Senators' concerns were echoed by Colin Powell, who said in a letter that redefining the conventions would put US troops at risk.