Date published: 2006/06/29
The BBC says:
The US Supreme Court has ruled that the Bush administration does not have the authority to try terrorism suspects by military tribunal.
In a landmark decision, justices upheld the challenge by Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver to his trial at Guantanamo.
The court's ruling that the proceedings violated Geneva Conventions is seen as a major blow to the administration.
President George W Bush said he would respect the decision but also protect the American people from "killers".
The Cuba-based facility currently holds about 460 inmates, mostly without charge, whom the US suspects of links to al-Qaeda or the Taleban.
Osama Bin Laden's ex-driver, Salim Ahmed Hamdan, is one of 10 Guantanamo inmates facing a military tribunal.
He launched the proceedings demanding to be tried by a civilian tribunal or court martial, where the prosecution would face more obstacles.
In its ruling, the court said: "We conclude that the military commission convened to try Hamdan lacks power to proceed because its structure and procedures violate" agreements on prisoners of war, as well as US military rules.
The ruling does not demand the release of prisoners held at Guantanamo but gives the administration an opportunity to come up with another way of trying those held.
The BBC's Nick Miles in Washington says the implications of the decision are profound, as the tribunals already in place will now be ended and 60 others planned will not go ahead.
Five of the nine justices of the US Supreme Court supported the ruling. Three voted against.
Chief Justice John Roberts did not vote because he had judged the case at an earlier stage before joining the Supreme Court.
One small victory for the world against the continual extreme abuse of power by the Bush administration.
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