The U.S. military fired Lieutenant-Commander William Kuebler, Omar Khadr's U.S. military defence lawyer on Saturday.

Pentagon-appointed lawyer Kuebler has repeatedly alleged a conflict of interest on the part of his boss, Pentagon chief defence lawyer Colonel Peter Masciola, in Khadr's case, saying the colonel supported the continued prosecution of Mr. Khadr while also overseeing his defence.

That battle intensified this week, when LCdr. Kuebler lodged a formal complaint. He sought a court order preventing his dismissal until a hearing on his complaint, but was denied.

Like all Guantanamo prosecutions, the case is currently on hold pending a review by President Barack Obama's administration.

In February, Kuebler was blocked from traveling to meet Khadr at the U.S. Navy base in southeast Cuba amid the internal investigation, which he alleged was related to his criticism of Air Force Col. Peter Masciola's management, another lawyer.

He complained about Masciola's cooperation with the review of Guantanamo cases aimed at deciding whether the cases should be tried in civilian or military courts or some combination of the two.

"I don't want to make it easier for the government to prosecute my client," he said at the time. "I want my client to be released."

Officials denied the investigation was related to Kuebler's criticism.

Khadr, who is now 22, faced up to life in prison if convicted before the Guantanamo military commission.

Khadr was kidnapped at age 15 and is accused of murdering a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan in 2002. Khadr is now 22.

Kuebler has defended Khadr and last August sued Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in a bid to force him to intercede with Washington on Khadr's behalf.

U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged to shut down the Guantanamo prison camp that was widely seen as a stain on the United States' human rights record and a symbol of detainee abuse and detention without charge under the administration of George W. Bush.

Obama now must decide what to do with Khadr and other detainees still at Guantanamo.

Kuebler was reassigned to a job within the Navy's judge advocate general corps, Berrigan said.

Kuebler could not immediately be reached on Saturday.


Agencies