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| Padilla to stay jugged |
| 2004-01-23 |
| An American appeals court has granted a request by the Bush administration to delay the release of a US citizen held over an alleged al-Qaeda plot. The court ruled that Jose Padilla, arrested in 2002 for allegedly trying to set off a "dirty bomb", must stay in custody pending a government appeal. Mr Padilla is being held as an enemy combatant in a military jail. Last month, a federal appeal court ruled that President George W Bush did not have the authority to hold him in military custody indefinitely. The court said that, although it recognised that the US Government had a responsibility to protect the nation, presidential authority "does not exist in a vacuum". The judges said Mr Padilla should be released from military custody within 30 days, but added that the US Government was free to transfer him to civilian jurisdiction. Just move him from the brig to a federal lockup. |
| Posted by:Steve |