AP:

Military prosecutors have withdrawn a government witness in an upcoming Guantanamo war-crimes trial to conceal evidence of ''abuse and mistreatment'' of the defendant, his Pentagon-appointed lawyer alleged Sunday.

The witness, a U.S. agent whose identity is protected, was scheduled to testify that Canadian-born Omar Khadr -- charged with killing a U.S. soldier -- made a self-incriminating statement during a December 2004 interrogation, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Kuebler, who represents Khadr.

The defense says the statement was extracted by coercion, an example of the kinds of abuse Khadr has endured since he became a prisoner in 2002.

Military officials did not immediately respond to calls and e-mails for comment.

Prosecutors dropped the witness and the incriminating statement to block any discussion of abuse, the attorney said.

Posted by Laura at December 7, 2008 09:11 PM