Australian officials said that the United States promised...

Australian officials said that the United States promised not to seek the death penalty against two Australian citizens being held at a detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with others captured during the war on terrorism.
The US military also agreed to a range of concessions for two Australians being held as suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, the Australian government said.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock announced the measures after Canberra came under renewed pressure over the fate of David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, both held for two years without charge.
Hicks, 29, is among a group of six non-US detainees earmarked as the first to stand trial before a US military tribunal. Ruddock said Hicks would receive a number of privileges for his trial, which will also apply to Habib if he eventually stands trial. Conversations between Hicks and his lawyers will not be monitored, evidence will be given in open court and, subject to security considerations, the media will be allowed to attend. An Australian lawyer will be retained as a consultant to the US military lawyers who will conduct Hicks' defence. In addition, Hicks will be allowed to speak to his family by phone and two family members can attend his trial.
Hicks, 28, was captured fighting for the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in November 2001 and authorities claim he has admitted training with terrorist organisation al-Qaeda. Habib, a 47-year-old father of four, was seized by Pakistani police in October 2001 after allegedly attending a terrorist training camp. str