Blair prepares ground for trials in Guantanamo

[Nambe]

Telegraph Group Ltd

Tony Blair signalled yesterday that the two Britons held by America in Guantanamo Bay would be tried by an American military tribunal. ---

Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General, will fly to the United States this week for talks about the fate of the detainees after US authorities "suspended" proceedings against them in a deal agreed by Mr Blair during talks with President George W Bush in Washington on Thursday. In theory various options, including the pair being tried in Britain, are on the table.

However, in an interview given during the Prime Minister round-the-world tour, he indicated that he would accept the American's preferred option, which is for trail by military tribunal. ---

Unless they plead guilty, the suspects run the risk of facing the death penalty. If convicted, the Pentagon has said the detainees can only appeal to Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary. ---

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