Obama revives controversial Guantanamo tribunals

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday revived the system of military trials for foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo, angering supporters who said he had broken a promise to end the controversial tribunals set up by the Bush administration.

The Democratic president said the commissions would be restarted as an option for trying prisoners at the U.S. military base in Cuba after undergoing several rule changes, including barring statements made under harsh interrogation and making it more difficult to use hearsay evidence.

"These reforms will begin to restore the commissions as a legitimate forum for prosecution, while bringing them in line with the rule of law," said Obama, who opposed the law that created the tribunals during the administration of his Republican predecessor, President George W. Bush.

"He (the president) is determined to reform the military commissions as an available form, along with the federal courts, for prosecution of detainees at Guantanamo," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman told reporters.

Republicans welcomed the move. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called it an "encouraging development." Obama's presidential rival John McCain said it was a step towards a comprehensive detainee policy that "accords with our values and protects our national security."

RIGHTS GROUPS CRITICAL

Rights groups, which have been long been critical of Washington's treatment of foreign terrorism suspects and the use of the detention centreat Guantanamo Bay, condemned the decision.

"By resurrecting this failed Bush administration idea, President Obama is backtracking dangerously on his reform agenda," said Kenneth Roth, head of Human Rights Watch.