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Rumsfeld to unveil plans for military tribunals

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will unveil plans this week for military tribunals to consider charges against al Qaeda and Taliban suspects held by the United States.

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The news media will have limited access to the commissions, a senior defense official said. Reporters will be allowed into the courtrooms, but television cameras will not be permitted, the official said. Reporters will be excluded when classified information is discussed.

The official said the decision on media access was reached by broad agreement throughout the Bush administration, which has cited security concerns related to the trials.

Military judges for each trial will have wide discretion in setting up the commissions to meet any security concerns. For example, the identities of some panel members and some details of the court proceedings may be kept from the public.

The tribunals are likely to parallel the civilian criminal court system in some respects. The accused will be considered innocent until proven guilty, and it is likely a unanimous verdict will be necessary for a death penalty decision.

Rumsfeld has said he anticipates criticism of the proceedings as he makes security concerns a top priority. Pentagon officials note security protection still surrounds some involved in court proceedings from the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center.

Liberal and conservative critics have assailed the proposed tribunals, saying they are too far-reaching and compromise American principles. President Bush has defended the tribunal plan, saying it is "the absolute right thing to do" to maintain national security and to spare criminal court jurors from potential harm.