Omar Khadr sits during a hearing at the US Military Commissions court for war crimes, at the US Naval Base, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Jan. 19, 2009
Posted on 02/25/2009 6:23:37 AM PST by Clive
WASHINGTON -- Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon on Tuesday provided assurances to the Obama administration Canada will not "interfere" in its review of terrorism charges against Canadian Omar Khadr, the last westerner remaining at Guantanamo.
Meanwhile, a row has erupted between Mr. Khadr's military lawyer and the officer's boss -- resulting in the lawyer being barred from seeing the Canadian-born terror suspect as an inquiry unfolds.
Mr. Cannon raised Mr. Khadr's case during a meeting in Washington with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, seeking information about the U.S. decision to conduct a 120-day review of all Guantanamo detainees facing terrorism charges. President Barack Obama ordered an effective suspension of the military commission proceedings against Mr. Khadr until completion of the review.
Mr. Khadr, 22, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. army sergeant during a firefight near Khost, Afghanistan, in 2002. At the time of his capture, he was 15 years old and his lawyers argue he cannot face a war crimes trial because he was a child soldier under international law.
"This individual is allegedly a murderer. He is an individual who is allegedly as well accused of terrorism," Mr. Cannon said.
"We have indicated today that the government of Canada fully respects the process that the American government is putting forward." Mr. Cannon added that he told Ms. Clinton "he will not interfere in this process as long as you people have Mr. Khadr under your surveillance."
Mr. Cannon's inquiry on Mr. Khadr's case comes less than a week after Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff pressed Obama -- in a brief meeting during the president's visit to Ottawa -- for Mr. Khadr to be returned to Canada to face justice.
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(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
Omar Khadr sits during a hearing at the US Military Commissions court for war crimes, at the US Naval Base, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Jan. 19, 2009
I hate to say it, but that artist rendering makes him look like a primate.
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