US Senate defeats Guantanamo trial restriction

The US Senate has defeated a measure seen as hampering US President Barack Obama's administration plans to try suspected terrorists in civilian courts in New York.

The US Senate has defeated a measure seen as hampering US President Barack Obama's administration plans to try suspected terrorists in civilian courts in New York.

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Republican Senator James Inhofe's amendment, which was defeated in a 57-43 vote, aimed to prevent the transfer of detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay facility for suspected terrorists to US soil.

Inhofe's measure would have blocked any monies in a military construction and veterans' affairs bill from going to build or modify any US facilities to hold Guantanamo Bay detainees on a temporary or permanent basis.

Republicans have assailed the Obama administration's plans to try five alleged plotters in the September 11, 2001 terrorist strikes in civilian court in New York.