MOVE HIM TO GITMO:

Top US court agrees Padilla move (BBC, 1/05/06)

The US Supreme Court has ruled that terror suspect Jose Padilla can be transferred from military to civilian custody to face criminal charges.

The move, seen as a victory for the Bush administration, overrules a lower court's ruling.

Mr Padilla, a US citizen, has been held without charge since May 2002.

His case and detention, criticised by civil rights groups, is seen as a test of the limits of the US government's anti-terrorist powers.

In December, the appeals court accused the government of trying to prevent full legal scrutiny of Mr Padilla's case by seeking his transfer to another court.