Washington - The military tribunals of terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will continue despite a Supreme Court ruling that allows prisoners to challenge their detention in federal courts. The case before the Supreme Court was not a challenge to the tribunals and therefore the proceedings will go forward, said Peter Carr, a Justice Department spokesman.
Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Brussels Friday the United States was weighing its next steps in light of the high court's decision that dealt another legal blow to the Bush administration's detention policies.
"How we deal with with terrorists who are determined to kill more Americans is such an important decision that we will have to look at it very carefully," Gates said on the sidelines of a NATO meeting.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the 270 detainees still being held at the Guantanamo prison should be afforded rights under the US Constitution, and can contest their detention in US federal courts even though they are being held on foreign soil.
The ruling marked the third time the high court has sided with the detainees and against President George W Bush's policy for holding them in the war on terrorism.
The case involved detainees held as "enemy combatants" even though they have not been charged with a crime. Only thirteen have been charged under the military commissions, and some trials have already begun.
The proceedings against the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other co-defendants began June 5.
