US pledge on 'Australian Taleban'

David Hicks is one of two Australians at Guantanamo Bay

An Australian terror suspect being held by the United States will not be executed if convicted, US and Australian officials said.

David Hicks, from the southern city of Adelaide, was captured while fighting for the Taleban in Afghanistan in November 2001 and is now one of two Australians being held at Guantanamo Bay.

US officials, who last week gave a similar pledge to two British detainees, also said Mr Hicks could serve any sentence in Australia.

He rang us up one day and said, 'Well, I've joined the KLA.' I thought it was an airline. Terry Hicks Profile of David Hicks

The assurances followed widespread concern in Australia and Europe about military tribunals that will be set up to try suspects at Guantanamo.

The US also said that Mr Hicks would be able to see all the evidence to be presented against him, and that conversations with his legal advisers would not be monitored.

Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was pleased with the US assurances.

He said a separate agreement would have to be reached concerning the second Australian detainee at Guantanamo, Mamdouh Habib.

Mr Hicks is one of six Guantanamo detainees that have been listed as eligible for trial by a US military commission.

No charges have been filed against the six.

Australian officials said that the case against Mr Hicks included allegations he trained with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist group in Afghanistan.