Of course Howard wants this dealt with prior to the election. Politics…..not much different about them no matter what country!

SYDNEY: The Australian government says it has reached a deal to allow David Hicks, who has
been locked up at the U.S. military base at Guantnamo Bay for more than five years without trial, to return home to
Australia by the end of the year.

American military prosecutors have accused Hicks, 31, an Australian citizen, of attempted murder in violation of
the laws of war and providing material support for terrorism. Hicks, who was captured in Afghanistan in late 2001,
is expected to be formally charged soon.

The Australian foreign minister, Alexander Downer, said Sunday that authorities in the United States had told him
that if Hicks was found guilty by the military tribunal, he would be allowed to serve out his sentence in an
Australian prison.

“If he’s convicted, we’ve made an arrangement with the Americans which was confirmed to me 10 days ago by
the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that David Hicks will be able to serve his sentence or the remainder of
his sentence in Australia,” Downer told Australia’s Nine television network.

“If the trial proceeds and proceeds quickly,” Downer added, “it’ll be possible to get Mr. Hicks back to Australia
by the end of the year, either to serve in a prison in Australia or of course just to be released, depending on
the result of the trial.”

The Australian government is facing an election later this year and has come under increasing pressure to
persuade the U.S. authorities to either charge Hicks or release him. Downer admitted that the process had
taken longer than he would have liked. “It’s taken an interminable time, and hopefully it can be resolved pretty
soon,” he said.

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