Funds sought for court at Guantanamo

The Pentagon will ask Congress for $115 million to build a court complex at its Guantanamo Bay military base in Cuba to try suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda members on war crimes accusations, a Defense Department spokesman said Friday.

The Pentagon will propose a complex that includes a courthouse with two large courtrooms and a high-security area as well as housing for legal personnel, dining areas, a media center and other infrastructure, according to Navy Lt.-Cmdr. Chito Peppler, a department spokesman.

The Pentagon will probably submit its request next week, according to a defense official. The Defense Department wants the funds approved this year, the official said, so trials can start by July 1.

A new Congress begins in January with Democrats in control after voters swept Republicans from power in an election driven largely by voters’ anger over Iraq. Another defense official said the timing of the funding request was not related to the power switch.

President Bush signed a law this year creating the military commissions system to try terrorism suspects. Bush said the act would help bring to trial some of those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks.