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24/07/2003
US rule out death penalty for British detainees
The two Britons currently being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will not face the death penalty, it has emerged following a meeting between the Attorney General and the US General Counsel of the Department of Defense.
The US assured the UK that the prosecution had reviewed the evidence against Feroz Abbasi and Moazzem Begg, and that based on this, if charged, the prosecution would not seek the death penalty in either case.
Also, the US said that it would not monitor conversations held between the detainees and their defence teams.
William Haynes met with Attorney General Peter Goldsmith on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the cases and, according to defense department officials, the talks were "productive and led to a number of assurances from the US about the military commission process".
Lord Goldsmith's visit follows on from President Bush's decision not to begin any military commission proceedings against British citizens "pending the outcome of those meetings".
However, prisoners held in Camp X-Ray will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis based on their specific circumstances.
"To date, no enemy combatants have been charged for trial before a military commission. No military commission proceedings will begin against any British nationals until after further discussions planned for next week," a defense department spokesperson said.
(GMcG)
The US assured the UK that the prosecution had reviewed the evidence against Feroz Abbasi and Moazzem Begg, and that based on this, if charged, the prosecution would not seek the death penalty in either case.
Also, the US said that it would not monitor conversations held between the detainees and their defence teams.
William Haynes met with Attorney General Peter Goldsmith on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the cases and, according to defense department officials, the talks were "productive and led to a number of assurances from the US about the military commission process".
Lord Goldsmith's visit follows on from President Bush's decision not to begin any military commission proceedings against British citizens "pending the outcome of those meetings".
However, prisoners held in Camp X-Ray will continue to be assessed on a case-by-case basis based on their specific circumstances.
"To date, no enemy combatants have been charged for trial before a military commission. No military commission proceedings will begin against any British nationals until after further discussions planned for next week," a defense department spokesperson said.
(GMcG)
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