Obama Outlines Terrorist Custody Guidelines for FBI

The Obama administration has outlined the situations in which the FBI, rather than the military, could be allowed to retain custody of Al Qaeda terrorist suspects who are not U.S. citizens but are arrested by federal law enforcement officers, reports Fox News.

The new rules issued by the White House resulted from a December compromise in Congress between the administration and a majority of Republicans and some Democrats who wanted a bigger military role and a reduced role for civilian courts in the fight against terrorism.

The new law that emerged requires military custody for non-U.S. citizen members of Al Qaeda or "associated forces" involved in planning or attempting an attack on the United States or coalition partners, unless the president waives that provision.