Court reversal over Guantanamo

In a highly-unusual reversal, the US Supreme Court will hear appeals by Guantanamo inmates on their right to challenge their captivity.

In April, the high court refused to hear arguments but has now said two cases will now be brought before the court when its new term begins in October. The court gave no explanation in its one-paragraph order for the move.

Around 375 inmates are detained at the Cuban-based prison. The first arrived over five years ago after the US launched its war on terrorism in response to the September 11 attacks.

The decision puts pay to an anti-terrorism law that President George W Bush had pushed through Congress last year which took away the right of the foreign terrorist suspects at the detention centre to have a judicial review of their cases.

White House National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in response: "We did not think that court review at this time was necessary, but we are confident in our legal position."

There have been calls from the international community to have Guantanamo closed but President Bush has said it is a necessary tool in the war on terrorism.

Zachary Katznelson, a senior counsel at the London-based lawyers' group Reprieve, which represents dozens of Guantanamo prisoners, called the court's decision a major possible breakthrough for detainee rights.

He said: "They realised, 'Wait maybe we made a mistake, we really need to look at these issues. I think it (the Supreme Court decision) could mean the end of the legal black hole of Guantanamo."

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