The Hindu : U.S. bows to allies on military trials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 25, 2003

International

International

U.S. bows to allies on military trials

WASHINGTON July 24. Bowing to pressure from two key allies in the U.S.-declared war on terrorism, the Pentagon has said it would not seek the death penalty in any military trials held for two British subjects or an Australian national held at Guantanamo Bay.

The announcement yesterday followed the opening of separate talks this week between the U.S. Defence Department's top legal officer and representatives of Britain and Australia, which have complained of legal restrictions in such trials and a possible death penalty for conviction of major crimes.

The U.S. President, George W. Bush, on July 3 designated six foreign captives eligible to be tried before U.S. military commissions. While none was named, two have been reported to be British and one Australian. ``Among other things, the U.S. assured the U.K. that the prosecution had reviewed the evidence against Feroz Abbasi and Moazzam Begg, and that based on the evidence, if charged, the prosecution would not seek the death penalty in either case,'' a Pentagon statement said on Wednesday. — Reuters

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International