Prime Minister John Howard says Australian David Hicks has admitted he trained with Al Qaeda. Mr Howard says the Pentagon has assured him that Mr Hicks, who is being held in Guantanomo Bay in Cuba, will be presumed innocent when he faces trial before a military commission. He says it is up to the Americans if they want a military rather than a normal court trial. "That is a decision that they are applying in relation to the nationals of all countries," he said. "They regard these people as enemy combatants. Bear in mind the claim is that he trained with Al Qaeda."
| We're not treating him any different than any other Mahmoud... |
But an Adelaide lawyer working as part of Mr Hicks's civil defence team says he is outraged that the Prime Minister has made such a claim.
Franco Camatta says he knows of no basis for Mr Howard's statement. "We're disappointed that he chose to go public on that without at least having the courtesy of letting the family know that's what the Government's position or understanding is," Mr Camatta said. "That is a significant statement which is of great concern and the basis upon which that statement is made is one that we are not privy to and have no knowledge of." |