PRISONERS FROM GUANTANAMO BAY WILL NOT BE MOVED TO U.S. SOIL OR TRIED IN CIVILIAN COURTS AND ARE IN A "HOLDING PATTERN" AFTER A SUPREME COURT RULING AGAINST A MILITARY TRIBUNAL SYSTEM, THE WHITE HOUSE SAID ON MONDAY ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW TO PROCEED AFTER THE U.S. SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THE TRIBUNAL SYSTEM IT SET UP TO TRY THE TERRORISM SUSPECTS WAS ILLEGAL. MOST OF THE INMATES HAVE BEEN HELD FOR MORE THAN FOUR YEARS WITHOUT CHARGES AT THE DETENTION FACILITY BUILT IN CUBA AFTER THE SEPT. 11 ATTACKS. BUSH HAS SAID THE HIGH COURT'S SILENCE ON THE USE OF GUANTANAMO AS A PRISON SIGNALED ACCEPTANCE OF HIS DECISION TO HOLD PRISONERS AT THAT FACILITY. CRITICISM OF THE TREATMENT OF DETAINEES HAS LED TO INTERNATIONAL CALLS TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO, WHERE THREE PRISONERS COMMITTED SUICIDE ON JUNE 10. THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS GUANTANAM CANNOT BE CLOSED UNTIL ITS PRISONERS ARE EITHER REPATRIATED OR TRIED. "WE ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE THEM INTO PLACES ON AMERICAN SOIL AND TO THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM," WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN TONY SNOW SAID. "THERE ARE NO PLANS AT THIS POINT TO MOVE THEM INTO ANOTHER FACILITY EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE ARE ABLE TO REPATRIATE THOSE WHO MIGHT, IN FACT, BE TRIED AND CARED FOR ELSEWHERE," HE SAID. --MORE 10/07/2006 23:46 ت م
