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SYDNEY - US Vice-President Dick Cheney says everything is being done by his government to have Australian terror suspect David Hicks brought to trial as soon as possible.
Mr Cheney was speaking to reporters after holding talks in Sydney with Prime Minister John Howard.
During the one-hour meeting Mr Howard stressed Australia's disappointment at how Hicks had spent five years being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba without having gone to trial.
Mr Cheney said Hicks had now been charged and the US Defence Department was now deciding whether a military commission would be convened to try Hicks.
"Mr Hicks is near the head of the queue," Mr Cheney said.
"We can't interfere with that process. It's a judicial process. We can't influence it. That would be a violation of the procedure. But I do expect that in the not too distant future that ... will get resolved.
"I can assure you we will be doing everything we can to deal with these matters in as expeditious manner as possible."
Mr Howard said while he did not sympathise with Hicks, he did stress to Mr Cheney his concern about the amount of time it was taking for him to be put on trial.
"I have asked ... that the trial be brought on as soon as humanly possible and that there be no further delay," Mr Howard said.
"I have put that very plainly and I have put that in the context of direct speaking of close friends."
During their talks in Mr Howard's Sydney office, the pair also discussed issues to do with Iraq, Afghanistan, China and Indonesia.
Mr Cheney will join Mr Howard and several senior federal government ministers for lunch at Mr Howard's official Sydney residence, Kirribilli House, this afternoon.
Mr Howard said he expected to again raise the issue of Hicks during their lunch.
- AAP
