The Obama administration is considering a change in the law for the military commissions at the prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, that would clear the way for detainees facing the death penalty to plead guilty without a full trial.

The provision could permit military prosecutors to avoid airing the details of brutal interrogation techniques. It could also allow the five detainees who have been charged with the Sept. 11 attacks to achieve their stated goal of pleading guilty to gain what they have called martyrdom.

Obama promised in January he would have the infamous military prison closed down within a year.

Washington wants European nations to take in roughly 50 to 60 inmates. These prisoners -- from nations including Libya, China and Algeria -- can't return home because they could face abuse or torture there or because their governments are unwilling to take them back. Washington says the inmates are harmless.