The Bush administration says terrorist suspects being held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have no constitutional right to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.
In court papers filed Monday, the Justice Department asked an appeals court to dismiss hundreds of cases by detainees at the prison camp.
Lawyers for the detainees have argued the government cannot detain terrorist suspects overseas and hold them without access to civilian courts.
But the Justice Department says a new law signed by President Bush last month gives military officials broad authority to detain suspects abroad.
Officials have created a system of military commissions to prosecute cases against suspects at Guantanamo Bay.
Military officials say hearings could begin early next year for dozens of suspected terrorists at the camp.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.