US sets up new Guantanamo panels

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The US government is setting up new military tribunals to review the legal status of terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, the Pentagon says.
The move follows a Supreme Court ruling giving inmates the right to challenge their detention in US courts.

Officials say the 595 prisoners will be notified of this right within 10 days.

The new so-called Combatant Status Review tribunals will consist of three officers, at least one of whom will be a military lawyer.

But the detainees will not have access to a lawyer themselves for these tribunals - only another military officer to assist them.

The BBC's Nick Childs in Washington says the Bush administration has been under pressure to react to last week's Supreme Court ruling.

Lawyers for nine detainees have already filed writs in the Washington federal court.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3875241.stm