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US deal struck on terror suspects US deal struck on terror suspects
(1 day later)
US President George W Bush has reached a deal with Republican senators on a controversial bill setting rules for the interrogation of terror suspects. US President George W Bush has reached a deal with Republican senators on a controversial bill setting rules for the questioning of terror suspects.
Mr Bush said the agreement would allow his administration to resume military tribunals, suspended since June. Under the deal, Mr Bush dropped his demand that CIA interrogators be protected from prosecution by redefining the Geneva conventions.
The compromise will also allow the Bush administration to resume military tribunals, suspended since June.
Rebel John McCain said Mr Bush now had tools needed for the "war on terror".
Last week a Senate committee backed a milder bill granting broader protection to suspects.Last week a Senate committee backed a milder bill granting broader protection to suspects.
Rebel Republicans had demanded a provision making it clear that torture of suspects would be barred. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell backed Republicans opposing the measure sponsored by Mr Bush, saying that the international community was beginning to doubt the moral basis of the war on terror.
Torture question
President Bush said the agreement would preserve a programme that would "help us crack the terror network to save American lives".President Bush said the agreement would preserve a programme that would "help us crack the terror network to save American lives".
"The measure also creates military commissions that will bring these ruthless killers to justice," said Mr Bush, adding that he hoped Congress would send him the legislation before it concludes its business next week. "I'm pleased to say that this agreement preserves the ... most potent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terrorist attacks, and that is the CIA programme to question the world's most dangerous terrorists and to get their secrets," he said.
'Moral qualms' Correspondents say a deal was probably reached in part because a split within the party risked damaging its prospects in November's mid-term elections.
The committee had defied the president, rejecting the legislation to set up trials for foreign terrorism suspects and arguing that it could allow torture and put Americans at risk of similar mistreatment. There were concessions on both sides, but the White House appears to have backed down on two key issues.
Ex-Secretary of State Colin Powell backed Republicans opposing the measure sponsored by Mr Bush, saying that the international community was beginning to doubt the moral basis of the US "war on terror". Firstly, rebel Republicans had demanded a provision making it clear that torture of suspects would be barred.
In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that the administration did not have the authority to try terrorism suspects by military tribunal, forcing the president to seek Congressional approval. They said Mr Bush's original proposals would effectively redefine the Geneva Conventions to allow harsh treatment of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba.
The controversy centred on the content of the evidence that can be seen by detainees and interrogation methods.
Senators had argued Mr Bush's proposals would effectively redefine the Geneva Conventions to allow harsh treatment of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba.
Some 460 suspects are believed to be held at the highly criticised detention centre.Some 460 suspects are believed to be held at the highly criticised detention centre.
The BBC's James Westhead in Washington says it appears that concessions were made on both sides. The rebels also argued that the legislation could put Americans at risk of similar mistreatment.
Whilst the White House says the CIA's interrogation programmes will continue, for example, it seems there will be clearer guidelines meeting the Geneva convention, for instance prohibiting outrages against personal dignity. An adjustment to the domestic War Crimes Act outlining "grave breaches" of the Geneva Convention will now set out what the CIA can and cannot do.
Correspondents said a deal was probably reached in part because a split within the party risked damaging its prospects in November's mid-term elections. These breaches include torture and other forms of assault and mental stress, but the agreement does not mention specific interrogation techniques which would be banned.
Rules on evidence
The deal will also allow for military tribunals to try some of the terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay.
But in a second key concession by the administration, they will now see all the evidence the jury sees, including some classified material once it has been stripped of the most sensitive details.
Stricter rules have been put in place on obtaining evidence through coercion, and evidence obtained through torture has been barred.
Mr Bush said he hoped Congress would send him the legislation before it concludes its business next week.
In June, the US Supreme Court ruled that the administration did not have the authority to try terrorism suspects by military tribunal, forcing the president to seek Congressional approval.