STATEMENT OF BARBARA COMSTOCK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGARDING THE NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION IN COALITION OF CLERGY V. BUSH:

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on Nov. 18, 2002. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2002 WWW.USDOJ.GOV SG (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 "The Justice Department is pleased the Ninth Circuit accepted the government's argument that the detention of Taliban and Al Qaeda combatants in Guantanamo Bay cannot be challenged by the plaintiffs. The military has acted within its authority in detaining noncitizens captured in combat outside of the United States. The Justice Department will continue to support the actions of our military forces to lawfully detain those who would do our nation harm." 02-682

Source: US Department of Justice