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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Obama to revive Guantanamo trials | Obama to revive Guantanamo trials |
| (20 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. | 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. |
| Commissions 'appropriate' | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Text: Obama statement Q&A: Closing Guantanamo 'Struggle' over Guantanamo | |
| "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. | "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." | "This is the best way to protect our country, while upholding our deeply held values." |
| Earlier, as White House aides released details of Mr Obama's impending statement, rights groups reacted with dismay. | |
| Zachary Katznelson of Reprieve, which represents a number of Guantanamo Bay detainees, told the BBC that the president making a "fundamental mistake". | |
| "He is taking a gravely, truly flawed system, tinkering at the edges and hoping that the world is somehow going to see this as legitimate, as open, as fair - it's not going to happen," he said. | |
| "There is no way that these trials should be rehabilitated. We should move people to the civilian courts. It's tried, it's tested, it works." | |
| Shortly before Mr Obama's announcement, US officials said that Algerian detainee Lakhdar Boumediene had left Guantanamo Bay for France. | |
| Mr Boumediene was arrested in Bosnia in 2001 and was held for seven years. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in November. |