WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- The Bush administration and three Republican senators compromised in Washington Thursday on a bill setting rules for questioning and trying terror suspects.
The senators -- John Warner, R-Va., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-N.C. -- and Stephen Hadley, President George W. Bush's national security adviser, announced the compromise after a day of negotiations, the International Herald Tribune reported. The compromise reportedly allows some classified information to be kept from suspects.
Bush said the agreement allows the CIA to continue its interrogations of terrorist suspects.
"I'm pleased to say this agreement preserves the most single, the most potent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terrorist attacks," he said.
McCain said the agreement preserves "the letter and the spirit of the Geneva Conventions."
The main disagreement between the administration and the senators had been Bush's attempt to "clarify" the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war, and whether suspected terrorists would have access to all evidence used against them.
The bill backed by the Bush administration squeaked through the House Judiciary Committee by a 20-19 vote Wednesday.
