U.S. terror policy report delayed

A key report on the detention of terrorism suspects ordered by U.S. President Barack Obama will be delayed by six months, officials have said. Obama commissioned the report as part of his efforts to close the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay by the beginning of next year. U.S. terror policy report delayed Analysts say this delay raises doubts about his ability to meet the deadline. Officials attributed it to the need to ensure the review was comprehensive and to consult thoroughly with Congress. 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 be done unless suspects are proved guilty "in a court of law that affords them a full and fair opportunity to contest the charges against them". Get this right The reports were ordered in the wake of Obama's announcement that he would close the Guantanamo Bay prison by January 22, 2010. Administration officials say that this deadline still holds. But, reports the BBC in Washington, there are still a number of major problems - what to do with the remaining detainees being the biggest. Fewer than 20 out of about 245 inmates have been transferred from the detention center in the six months since Obama signed an order to close it within a year, the Associated Press news agency reports. More than 50 inmates have been cleared for transfer overseas. Obama has said others will be tried by modified military commissions or in U.S. courts. The administration is also open to the possibility of indefinitely holding detainees who cannot be transferred or tried, though this has not yet been applied. In Washington lawmakers from both parties have opposed the idea of transferring detainees to U.S. soil. Congress has asked the administration for a detailed plan on how Guantanamo will be shut before it releases funds for its closure. Administration officials said delays over submitting reports were granted to conduct reviews that were as thorough as possible. One unnamed official was quoted as saying the administration wanted to present a plan with "legal foundation". "We want to get this right and not to have another multiple years of uncertainty around these issues," the official said. The Guantanamo Bay detention center was set up in January 2002 to hold suspects deemed to be "enemy combatants". Human rights groups and some foreign governments have long criticised the prison.

U.S. terror policy report delayed

Analysts say this delay raises doubts about his ability to meet the deadline.

Officials attributed it to the need to ensure the review was comprehensive and to consult thoroughly with Congress.

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 be done unless suspects are proved guilty "in a court of law that affords them a full and fair opportunity to contest the charges against them".

Get this right

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

But, reports the BBC in Washington, there are still a number of major problems - what to do with the remaining detainees being the biggest.

Fewer than 20 out of about 245 inmates have been transferred from the detention center in the six months since Obama signed an order to close it within a year, the Associated Press news agency reports.

More than 50 inmates have been cleared for transfer overseas. Obama has said others will be tried by modified military commissions or in U.S. courts.

The administration is also open to the possibility of indefinitely holding detainees who cannot be transferred or tried, though this has not yet been applied.

In Washington lawmakers from both parties have opposed the idea of transferring detainees to U.S. soil.

Congress has asked the administration for a detailed plan on how Guantanamo will be shut before it releases funds for its closure.

Administration officials said delays over submitting reports were granted to conduct reviews that were as thorough as possible.

One unnamed official was quoted as saying the administration wanted to present a plan with "legal foundation".

"We want to get this right and not to have another multiple years of uncertainty around these issues," the official said.

The Guantanamo Bay detention center was set up in January 2002 to hold suspects deemed to be "enemy combatants".

Human rights groups and some foreign governments have long criticised the prison.