Downer raises Hicks case with US

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has raised the case of Australian terrorism suspect David Hicks with the new United States Defence Secretary.

Mr Downer met Robert Gates in Germany overnight.

Prime Minister John Howard says Mr Downer reinforced the Federal Government's concerns about the lengthy time taken to bring the Guantanamo Bay detainee to trial.

"We are unhappy, frustrated, with the amount of time it's taken," he told Channel Nine.

"I don't think the Americans have handled that part of it well and it has made people legitimately concerned."

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Gus: Hypocritical clown...