US House passes bill on trial of terror suspects

Washington, Sept 28: The US House of Representatives has approved a legislation seeking to set clearer limits on CIA interrogation techniques for trying the suspected terrorists, with 253-168 votes here.

It, however, denies access to courts for detainees seeking to challenge their imprisonment at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere.

The House passed the measure last night with support from 34 Democrats joining hands with all but seven Republicans.

The Senate also began debating the measure last night, rejecting the first of the five amendments opposed by the administration. The Senate is likely to approve the bill today.

If approved by both houses of Congress and signed by the president, the legislation would establish legal guidelines for detaining and interrogating detainees and trying them before military commissions.

A Supreme Court ruling last June struck down the Bush administration plans for military tribunals, and formed another backdrop for the debate.

Democrats and Republicans disagreed over key aspects of compliance with the Geneva Conventions, habeas corpus or the right of a detainee to seek release from unlawful imprisonment, and definitions of coercion during interrogations and admissibility of evidence.

Republican Congressman repeatedly drew attention to provisions they say prohibit torture and provide basic fairness.

''It outlaws torture, mandates decent treatment for enemy unlawful combatants who are in our custody, protects Americans from frivolous lawsuits and prosecutions, and most critically provides a fair, balanced and civilized process by which the international war criminals may be held accountable for their action,'' said Republican lawmaker Jim Saxton.

UNI