Bush resistance softens in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Three senior U.S. Republican senators have lowered their resistance to U.S. President George Bush's proposals for military trials of terrorism suspects.

The re-drafted bill with the concessions was circulated Monday by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John W. Warner, R-Va.; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

However, differences remain between Bush and the Senate, which is opposed to allowing convictions using evidence the suspects can't see, and limiting legal exposure to CIA and intelligence officials over abusive treatment, the newspaper said.

The softened Senate bill includes language supporting the administration that detainee abuse can be prosecuted only if it "shocks the conscience," which legal experts told the Post would leave room for judges to weigh the urgency of the information extracted vs. the methods used to acquire it.

However, the Senate draft requires any evidence used at trial be declassified or summarized, which the administration strongly opposes, the report said.