U.S. military judge postpones Khadr trial

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The trial of Canadian Omar Khadr, charged by Washington with terrorism and war crimes when he was 15, has been postponed, a U.S. military judge said Thursday.

"There will be no trial on Oct. 8," Col. Patrick Parrish, the judge presiding over Khadr's military tribunal at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

He did not set a new date and met privately with Khadr's lawyers after the hearing, The Toronto Star reported.

The Pentagon alleges Khadr threw a grenade that fatally wounded U.S. Delta Force Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer during a July 27, 2002, firefight in Afghanistan. Khadr, who was shot in the battle, is charged with murder and four other war crimes.

Khadr's lawyers contend Khadr was a child soldier co-opted into his father's war, the Star said. Khadr's family is alleged to have ties to Osama bin Laden and connections to the al-Qaida terrorist organization.

Khadr's lawyers also allege Washington is violating international laws that call for rehabilitation, not prosecution, of juveniles, the newspaper said.

Khadr is the only Western detainee remaining in Guantanamo, with European and Australian prisoners repatriated due to public pressure and government demands.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has maintained he will not interfere in Khadr's case.