WASHINGTON — Congress approved Thursday night landmark changes to the nation's system of interrogating and prosecuting terrorism suspects, preparing the ground for possible military trials for key al-Qaida members under rules that critics say will draw stiff constitutional challenges.
The Senate joined the House in embracing President Bush's view that the battle against terrorism justifies the imposition of extraordinary limits on defendants' traditional rights in the courtroom. They include restrictions on a suspect's ability to challenge his detention, examine all evidence against him, and bar testimony allegedly acquired through coercion of witnesses.
