Judge rejects attempt to block Guantanamo trial

3 hours ago
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba (AP) — A U.S. military judge has
rejected another attempt to halt the first Guantanamo war crimes trial.
The Navy judge's ruling comes as a civilian judge in Washington considers a separate bid to stop the trial of Salim Hamdan.
Hamdan
is a former driver for Osama bin Laden. He is charged with supporting
terrorism and could get life in prison if convicted.
The ruling
Thursday concerns the Constitution's equal-protection clause. Hamdan's
lawyers argued the war crimes tribunal is unconstitutional because it
does not grant him the same rights as a civilian or a traditional
military trial.
It was the second time this week Judge Keith Allred rejected a defense challenge invoking the U.S. Constitution.