War crimes trials pushed back again

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- A military judge agreed Monday to another delay in the war crimes trial of five Guantanamo prisoners charged in the Sept. 11 attacks to give U.S. officials more time to decide how to try them.

Army Col. Stephen Henley granted the 60-day continuance at the request of President Barack Obama's administration, which has said it will decide by Nov. 16 which Guantanamo cases will be tried in a revamped military court and which ones moved to civilian courts.

Henley scheduled the hearing at the U.S. base in Cuba to allow Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants -- all of whom are serving as their own lawyers -- to voice any objections to the delay. Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the attacks, and the other defendants sent a note saying they had none, and Henley issued a written order without taking testimony.

The two other prisoners have not yet received clearance to represent themselves and their lawyers did not oppose the continuance.

It was the third time the government sought a continuance in the Sept. 11 case, and the other pending war crimes trials since Obama took office in January.