US Terrorism Suspects Detention Report Faces Delay

Officials attributed the delay to the need to ensure the review was comprehensive and to consult thoroughly with Congress. Photo by trueslant.com

A key report on the detention of terrorism suspects ordered by US President Barack Obama will be delayed by six months, officials have said.

Obama commissioned the report as part of his efforts to close the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay by the beginning of next year.

Officials attributed the delay to the need to ensure the review was comprehensive and to consult thoroughly with Congress, the BBC reported.

They said another report on the interrogation of suspects and their transfer to other countries would be delayed by two months.

However, a task force did send an interim report setting out legal goals for handling terrorism suspects in the future.

"Where appropriate, prosecution of those responsible must occur as soon as possible, whether in federal court or before a military commission," the interim report said.

It also said justice could not prevail unless suspects were proved guilty "in a court of law that affords them a full and fair opportunity to contest the charges against them".

The reports were ordered in the wake of Obama's announcement that he would close the Guantanamo Bay prison by 22 January 2010. Administration officials say that this deadline still holds.

 

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