Detainee habeus corpus petitions top 200

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- About 200 habeus corpus petitions have been filed in a U.S. civilian court by Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detainees since the U.S. Supreme Court OK'd the petitions.

The hearings on the detentions provide petitioners the chance to see the federal government's evidence against them, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

One detainee, Mohammed Sulaymon Barre of Somalia, plans to find out why he's been held as an alleged terrorist for four months.

"They have never attempted to set forth any basis for Mr. Barre's detention," said his lawyer, J. Wells Dixon who works with the Center for Constitutional Rights. "This will give him an opportunity to go into court and be heard."

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia is where the cases will be heard. Chief Judge Royce Lamberth discussed how to proceed during a meeting with lawyers for the detainees and the U.S. Justice Department. He said the court's judges will meet Tuesday "to discuss the lawyers' suggestions."

Justice Department officials want to consolidate the cases and plan to add about 50 attorneys, sources familiar with the meeting told the Post. Justice officials also proposed filing amended papers detailing the evidence that supports detention.