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US House passes terror trial bill US House passes terror trial bill
(30 minutes later)
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill defining the rules for interrogating and trying foreign terrorism suspects.The US House of Representatives has passed a bill defining the rules for interrogating and trying foreign terrorism suspects.
The bill, backed by President George W Bush, would allow military tribunals to try the several hundred suspects held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.The bill, backed by President George W Bush, would allow military tribunals to try the several hundred suspects held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
Supporters say the bill gives America the tools it needs to bring terrorist suspects to justice. Supporters say the bill gives America the tools it needs to bring terror suspects to justice.
Critics say it curbs the rights usually granted in civil and military courts.Critics say it curbs the rights usually granted in civil and military courts.
The legislation is a response to a Supreme Court ruling in June that the original military tribunals set up by the Bush administration to prosecute detainees were in violation of American and international law.The legislation is a response to a Supreme Court ruling in June that the original military tribunals set up by the Bush administration to prosecute detainees were in violation of American and international law.
The new measures provide defendants with more legal rights than they had under the old system, but it eliminates their right to challenge their detention and treatment in federal court.The new measures provide defendants with more legal rights than they had under the old system, but it eliminates their right to challenge their detention and treatment in federal court.
The bill forbids treatment of detainees that would constitute war crimes - such as torture, rape and biological experiments, but gives President Bush authority to decide which other techniques interrogators can use.The bill forbids treatment of detainees that would constitute war crimes - such as torture, rape and biological experiments, but gives President Bush authority to decide which other techniques interrogators can use.
The Senate is expected to vote on a near-identical bill on Thursday, which if also passed, would give President Bush and Republicans a substantial victory before mid-term elections in November.The Senate is expected to vote on a near-identical bill on Thursday, which if also passed, would give President Bush and Republicans a substantial victory before mid-term elections in November.