9/11 Accuseds' Torture Testimony to be Kept Secret

A U.S. military judge ordered Wednesday that testimony from defendants accused of taking part in the September 11 attacks describing their torture and secret imprisonment must be kept secret.

Judge James Pohl released his ruling on his military tribunal's website, agreeing with a request from the U.S. government that the testimony should be kept secret from the public and media for reasons of national security.

Human rights groups and media organizations had challenged the practice during trials at the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay of holding parts of the defendants' trial behind closed doors when sensitive topics were addressed.

The alleged al-Qaida operatives accused of being behind the 2001 attacks on New York and Washington were detained around the world in secret American intelligence operations, detained secretly and subjected to torture.

In his ruling, Pohl endorsed the U.S. government's view that discussing these matters in open court would endanger American national security by revealing secret procedures and tactics used by the intelligence agencies.

Under the so-called "40-second rule," reporters and members of the public following the Guantanamo hearings receive audio from the courtroom on a short delay and the feed can be cut off if classified material is released.

Pohl said that his military commission had decided that the delay was the "least intrusive and least disruptive method" of balancing the competing demands of open justice and national security.

He said the delay allows the court to "remedy any negligent or intentional disclosure of classified information without unduly impacting on the ability of the public and press to fully see and understand what is transpiring."