The chief prosecutor for the Guantanamo Bay military tribunals said that he is seeking to withdraw one of the eight charges against five men accused of planning and aiding the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The Pentagon has said it is ready to resume a trial at Guantanamo Bay for the acknowledged mastermind of the September 11 attacks and four other men.

The US Defence Secretary has called on the US government to look for ways to enable the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military facility in Cuba.