The US Senate begins consideration Thursday of a bill that if adopted will block civilian trials of 'war on terror' suspects and closure of the US prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a congressional source said Wednesday.

The development, which follows passage of a similar measure by the House of Representatives on December 8, has raised an outcry among human rights groups.

The measure consists of a paragraph refusing the administration's request 'for the first year costs of criminal trials for some former Guantanamo Bay detainees because the administration's plan for these trials is still undefined.'

It also contains language prohibiting the administration from using funds to acquire a prison to hold Guantanamo detainees in the United States. The administration had planned to buy a prison in Illinois for that purpose.

'We urge those on Capitol Hill to put politics aside and refocus on implementing smart national security strategies that include holding those who would harm Americans accountable in our courts' Elisa Massimino, the head of Human Rights First, said.

Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder appealed to senators not to tie President Barack Obama's hands, saying there was no known precedent for the Congress intervening 'to prohibit the prosecution of particular persons or crimes.'

A group of 17 former senior military officers also have written an open letter urging the Senate not to 'hinder the president from bringing suspected terrorists to justice.'

'Justice is long overdue in these cases, and that can only be achieved through fair and reputable trials in our criminal justice system,' the American Civil Liberties Union said.

Obama had promised to close the prison at the US naval base at Guantanamo before January 2010 but backed off in the face of stiff opposition in the Congress.

There are still 174 detainees at Guantanamo, only three of whom have been formally tried and found guilty.

The European Commission said Friday it was 'very concerned' by the December 8 vote in the House despite the efforts of EU members to help America 'turn a very dark page' of its history.
 

(Source: AFP)