Details emerge for terror tribunals

ANNE GEARAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Terror suspects tried before military tribunals would have many of the legal rights given defendants accused of other crimes, but prosecutors could use evidence that would probably be tossed out of an ordinary court, a U.S. official said Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is expected to announce details about how the tribunals would operate today. He has said the panels would be used in rare cases, if at all, and only if the suspects' home countries don't take over prosecution.

The Pentagon's rules seem designed to answer some of the sharpest criticism that followed President Bush's November announcement that tribunals would be an option for suspected members or supporters of the al-Qaida network.

A government official described the rules on condition of anonymity.

Bush said Wednesday, "The world now will begin to see what we meant by a fair system that will enable us to bring people to justice (and) at the same time protect (our) citizenry," Bush said.

Asked if tribunals were imminent, Bush said, "No plans right now ... nobody in mind as yet."

In many respects, the panels would resemble criminal trials in civilian court and the parallel military system of courts-martial.

Defendants would have the right to a lawyer, for example, and the right to see the evidence against them. Military lawyers would be provided free, and defendants could hire an outside civilian lawyer if they chose. Defendants would be presumed innocent.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

back to main Home Page Stories index