Guantanamo trials 'being rushed'

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was captured in Pakistan in 2003

Lawyers for five 9/11 suspects have said the US government is rushing their cases to trial at Guantanamo in order to sway the US presidential election.

They have called for the military judge to dismiss the case on the grounds it is politically motivated, according to documents seen by the Associated Press.

Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is among the men facing trial.

The lawyers say the planned start date, two months before the 4 November vote, is designed to grab the public eye.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against the five suspects in the case, which will be heard before controversial military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay prison camp.

Charges against a Saudi citizen alleged to have been the "20th hijacker" in the 11 September 2001 attacks were dropped in May.

Human rights groups have questioned whether the military tribunals can be fair, and say the defendants have been tortured.