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Prisoners in Gitmo granted status hearings

By Times Wires
Published December 19, 2007

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- The U.S. must hold court hearings to determine whether suspected terrorists imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay are prisoners of war or unlawful enemy combatants, a military judge said in a ruling that could delay war-crimes trials. The judge, Navy Capt. Keith Allred, said in a ruling late Monday that a military administrative panel's status finding is not enough to proceed with a trial at the U.S. base. Only unlawful enemy combatants can be tried before the military tribunals under a 2006 law. Allred's ruling would give detainees another chance to prove they are beyond the jurisdiction of the tribunals. Military prosecutors have not decided whether to appeal.

WASHINGTON
Bush plans first trip to Jerusalem

President Bush will make his first trip to Jerusalem and the West Bank next month to push Israel and the Palestinians toward peace. On a nine-day trip beginning Jan. 8, Bush plans to stop in Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It will be Bush's first presidential visit to each of the countries, except Egypt.

GAZA CITY
Israel strikes again to stop rockets

Israel on Tuesday carried out more airstrikes against Palestinian rocket squads based in the Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 more militants a day after slaying Islamic Jihad's military chief, Majid al-Harazin. Israeli air operations have killed at least 11 militants since Monday evening, most belonging to Islamic Jihad, which has claimed responsibility for dozens of cross-border rocket attacks in recent months.

UNITED NATIONS
Nations vote to end executions

The U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday called for a moratorium on the death penalty with a view to abolishing executions, approving a resolution opposed by the U.S., China and Iran. The vote in the 192-member world body was 104-54 with 29 abstentions. The resolution is not binding but carries moral weight and reflects the majority view of world opinion.

Elsewhere

• Bogota, Colombia: Colombian rebels pledged to hand over three hostages to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, including an aide to former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and the woman's young son, according to a statement released Tuesday. No date was mentioned.
• Kabul, Afghanistan: Taliban fighters killed 15 Afghan private security guards watching a convoy of fuel tankers in western Afghanistan, an official said Tuesday. Six Taliban fighters were killed in the fight.

[Last modified December 19, 2007, 03:36:05]