Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr fires American lawyer

Canadian detainee Omar Khadr has fired his American lawyers, leaving himself without defence counsel ahead of his trial.

His former military lawyer, U.S. Marine Lt.-Col. Colby Vokey confirmed he had been taken off the case on Wednesday.

He does not trust his American lawyers, Lt.-Col. Vokey said, adding that he does not blame Mr. Khadr for the decision.

Lt.-Col. Vokey said the United States is responsible for Mr. Khadr's interrogation and his treatment under a process that is “patently unfair.”

Mr. Khadr was 15 when he was captured in a firefight in Afghanistan
in which he allegedly killed a U.S. Army special forces soldier with a
grenade.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday at the isolated base in southeast Cuba.

Guantanamo Bay's chief defence counsel has dismissed Omar Khadr's lead attorney after the 20-year-old Canadian stated he no longer wants Americans representing him.

Col. Dwight Sullivan sent a letter yesterday to Khadr's military-appointed counsel, Lt. Col. Colby Vokey, stating that Vokey had been "excused" from the case and can no longer act on Khadr's behalf.

Khadr is to appear Monday before a military commission at the U.S. detention camp in Cuba.

"I'm disappointed but I just want what's best for Omar," Vokey said yesterday.

"I'm not surprised. I wouldn't trust American lawyers, especially ones in uniform, after what he has been through."