Obama lifts freeze on Guantanamo military tribunals

US President Barack Obama said Monday that he would lift the two-year freeze on new military trials for suspects at the Guantanamo Bay prison, and he issued new guidelines on the treatment of indefinite detainees.

Reuters/Jason Reed

"I am announcing several steps that broaden our ability to bring terrorists to justice, provide oversight for our actions, and ensure the humane treatment of detainees," Obama said in a statement.

The White House said that Secretary of Defence Robert Gates would issue an order "rescinding his prior suspension on the swearing and referring of new charges in the military commissions."

New military commissions were suspended in January 2009 for detainees at Guantanamo, who include suspects from the 11 September 2001 attacks, as well as other strikes against the US and suspects from Afghanistan.

Many are deemed by US authorities to be too dangerous to let free, and Obama issued guidelines on their treatment, including in an executive order that they have the right to have a periodic review of the reasons for their continued incarceration.