US President George W. Bush signed a law on Tuesday allowing tough CIA interrogation and military trials for terrorism suspects, triggering bitter election-year denunciations from Democrats.

With Republicans in danger of losing control of the US Congress in November 7 elections because of voter anger over the Iraq War, Bush sought to put back on the campaign agenda a more favourable issue for him national security and dealing with those blamed for the September 11 attacks.

In a White House ceremony, Bush signed the Military Commissions Act of 2006. He said the new law, the product of frantic September negotiations when senior Republicans broke with him, would bring to trial some of those believed complicit in the September 11 attacks.

The new law means Bush can continue a secret CIA programme for interrogating terrorism suspects whom he believes have vital information that could thwart a plot against America.

Human rights groups charge that the measure, likely to face legal challenges that go up as far as the Supreme Court, would allow harsh techniques bordering on torture, such as sleep deprivation and induced hypothermia.

At the signing ceremony, Bush could not resist a swipe at Democrats, an indirect shot far short of campaign stump speeches in which he charges they are soft on terrorism.

"Every member of the Congress who voted for this bill has helped our nation rise to the task that history has given us. Some voted to support this bill even when a majority of their party voted the other way," Bush said.

Democrats wasted no time firing back.

"I am deeply disappointed that Congress enacted this law," said Wisconsin Democratic Senator Russ Feingold. "We will look back on this day as a stain on our nation's history."

Bush said the law would allow intelligence professionals to question suspects without fear of being sued by them later.

"This bill spells out specific recognizable offences that would be considered crimes in the handling of detainees so that our men and women who question captured terrorists can perform their duties to the fullest extent of the law," he said.

(China Daily 10/19/2006 page7)