[JURIST] A US military commission at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] holding a pre-trial hearing in the case against Algerian detainee Sufyian Barhoumi [HRF case summary] Wednesday rejected his motion to be moved to a less restrictive detention area. Barhoumi, who suffered wounds, including the loss of four fingers, in a land mine accident in Afghanistan was originally housed in Camp Four [DOD photos], the communal living section of the base for co-operative detainees, but was moved on March 30 to maximum-security Camp Five ahead of his commission appearance.

Barhoumi testified that the severe conditions of Camp Five had excerbated his wounds and health and were impeding his right to counsel. The military tribunal rejected his protests, accepting the testimony of a Guantanamo official who told the commission "The real baseline for my whole motivation in everything is running a peaceful, safe and secure camp... I feel strongly that I have him in the best place to ensure his safety during this process." Barhoumi is charged [DOD charge sheet] with providing training for building remote detonators for car bombs. Of the 10 Guantanamo detainees facing charges before military commissions, 9 are currently housed at Camp Five, with another being held elsewhere for what a Guantanamo official called "operational reasons." Reuters has more. The American Forces Press Service had additional coverage.