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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Obama to revive Guantanamo trials | Obama to revive Guantanamo trials |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama has announced he is to revive military trials for some detainees at Guantanamo Bay. | President Barack Obama has announced he is to revive military trials for some detainees at Guantanamo Bay. |
| However, in a statement he said legal rights for those facing the military commissions would be improved. | |
| Mr Obama had halted the trials as one of his first acts on taking office in January, saying the US was entering a new era of respecting human rights. | Mr Obama had halted the trials as one of his first acts on taking office in January, saying the US was entering a new era of respecting human rights. |
| The decision to revive the military trials has brought harsh criticism from some US civil liberties groups. | The decision to revive the military trials has brought harsh criticism from some US civil liberties groups. |
| There are currently 240 detainees still at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. | There are currently 240 detainees still at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. |
| On the campaign trail last year, Mr Obama had branded the military commissions "an enormous failure". | On the campaign trail last year, Mr Obama had branded the military commissions "an enormous failure". |
| However, analysts say that although Mr Obama has condemned the Military Commissions Act, set up by his predecessor George W Bush, he has never ruled out revamping it. | However, analysts say that although Mr Obama has condemned the Military Commissions Act, set up by his predecessor George W Bush, he has never ruled out revamping it. |
| In a statement issued on Friday, the US president said military commissions were appropriate for trying enemies who violate the laws of war, provided that they are properly structured and administered. | |
| Mr Obama said he is seeking more time so that the new procedures can be implemented. | |
| The improved rights for detainees include restrictions on hearsay evidence; a ban on evidence obtained by cruel treatment; giving detainees more leeway to choose their own lawyers; and protecting detainees who refuse to testify, the statement said. | |
| "These reforms will begin to restore the commissions as a legitimate forum for prosecution, while bringing them in line with the rule of law," Mr Obama said. | |
| "This is the best way to protect our country, while upholding our deeply held values." |