Washington - The military tribunal of the five alleged co- conspirators in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was set to resume on Monday amid speculation President-elect Barack Obama will suspend the proceedings shortly after taking office.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the plot, and four co-defendants were due to appear before the military commission for pretrial hearings, including one on whether Ramzi bin-alShibh is mentally competent to handle his defence.

Mohammed along with the others in December declared before the commission that they wanted to confess to the plot, but those statements were later rescinded. All five men could face military executions if convicted for the plot.

Obama has said he wants to close Guantanamo as quickly as possible but has acknowledged the process is diplomatically and legally complicated and could take some time.

Officials of his presidential transition team have reportedly indicated he could issue the closure directive as earlier as Wednesday, one day after he is sworn in.

Another Guantanamo detainee, Canadian citizen Omar Khadr, is scheduled to go on trial on January 26 for allegedly killing a US soldier in Afghanistan with a hand grenade. His case is controversial because he was 15 years old at the time and remains one of the youngest prisoners at the notorious camp. (dpa)