Bush, Republicans agree on terrorism trial deal

WASHINGTON, Sep 21 (Reuters) US President George W Bush and Senate Republicans reached agreement today on a bill spelling out rules to interrogate and try foreign terrorism suspects, likely clearing the way for Congress to vote on the measure next week.

The White House said the deal would allow the CIA's questioning of foreign terrorist suspects to continue.

''We got what the president asked for,'' White House spokesman Tony Snow said. ''The CIA program to question detainees to get important information about al Qaeda, to foil plots and save American lives -- this program is going forward.'' Bush, who wanted authority for tough interrogations that critics said bordered on torture, was forced to make concessions after three leading Senate Republicans challenged his plan last week and offered a rival bill that drew more Senate support.

The Bush administration denies that prisoners are tortured.

Sens John Warner of Virginia, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina had said Bush's bill would undermine the Geneva Conventions' protections for war prisoners, and allow abusive interrogations and unfair trials.

Congress is trying to pass legislation to establish trial procedures for foreign terrorism suspects picked up since the September 11 attacks. The US Supreme Court struck down Bush's original program for such trials in June.

Reuters DKS VP0256