WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- U.S. automakers must spell out for Congress how they would spend any bailout funds they are awarded, Democratic leaders said Thursday.

Accountability and viability are key for any congressional consideration to help automakers, their workers and ancillary business partnerships, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said during a news conference Thursday.

He told automakers, "We need you to be part of what we're doing here" by detailing how they will use the funds and submitting their plans by Dec. 2.

The U.S. Senate would take up the plans the week of Dec. 8, Reid said, indicating that lawmakers won't consider an auto bailout plan before adjourning for the Thanksgiving holiday.

"We don't even know how much money they need," he said.

Automakers, union officials and industry analysts said bankruptcy was a real possibility if the automakers didn't receive some government help soon.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said the leadership's position "is our response to those who say, 'Let them go' then we'll deal with it," referring to some who argue that the companies should be allowed to fail.

However, Pelosi said, there must be a "path to viability" and accountability before there's any movement on a bailout question.

"(Until) they show us the plan, we cannot show them the money," she said.

"We want them to get their act together. We want them to come up with something," Reid said. "We are here to help. We are not against the auto industry. We want to help those people keep those jobs. ... But that will only happen if they get their act together."

Fannie and Freddie suspend foreclosures

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac. (NYSE:FRE)Thursday announced details of a plan to halt foreclosures and evictions from Thanksgiving until a week after New Year's.

The suspension will allow more homeowners to take advantage of a program to modify mortgage loans, The Washington Post (NYSE:WPO) reported. The mortgage giants said the plan, originally announced last week, will also be extended to those who have already been declared in default.

The government seized the companies in September.

"With this suspension, seriously delinquent borrowers may have an opportunity to avoid foreclosure and work out terms to stay in their homes," said James B. Lockhart III, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and overseer of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The foreclosure suspension takes effect Nov. 26 and ends Jan. 9.

Steps that can be taken to prevent foreclosure include extending mortgages to as long as 40 years, reducing the interest rate and, in extreme cases, allowing homeowners to delay some payments. The goal is to reduce monthly payments to no more than 38 percent of income.

Judge orders release of 5 Gitmo detainees

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Washington Thursday ordered five Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, prisoners released, saying "seven years is enough" in captivity.

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon, in the first ruling that carries out the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on detainee rights, said a single classified document the government used to hold the five wasn't convincing, Scotusblog.com reported. The government claimed, based on the document, the five -- plus one other detainee -- planned to travel to Afghanistan to participate in terrorist activities against U.S. and allied forces.

Leon said the government persuaded him that the sixth detainee, Belkacem ben Sayah, was "an al-Qaida facilitator" who sought to arrange travel to Afghanistan to engage in armed hostilities with U.S. and coalition partners.

The six prisoners were living in Bosnia when they were captured, although all are natives of Algeria.

Leon also suggested that government officials decline to appeal his ruling, saying "seven years is enough" in captivity, the Web site reported.

It took nearly an hour for the judge to announce his ruling because it was translated to the detainees over a telephone link with the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Report: Nkunda recruiting from Rwanda army

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Gen. Laurent Nkunda has recruited fighters for his rebel force in the eastern Congo from the Rwandan army, The Telegraph reported Thursday.

President Paul Kagame has denied that Rwanda is supporting Nkunda. But the newspaper said he appears to be allowing Nkunda to operate in Rwandan territory and to get fresh recruits from its army.

The recent flare-up of violence in the Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has forced at least 250,000 people from their homes. Thousands of civilians may have been killed by the Congolese army, militias loyal to the government and Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People.

About 800,000 Hutus from Rwanda are living in Kivu. They fled across the border after the 1994 genocide when Hutus massacred thousands of Tutsis.

The Hutus in Kivu are a common enemy for Nkunda and the present Rwandan government.

One 27-year-old told The Telegraph he joined the CNDP after serving until last month as a platoon commander in the Rwandan army.

"I decided to join them because fighting for the CNDP is like fighting for Rwanda." he said.