Canberra - Two Australian al-Qaeda suspects held at a United States naval base in Cuba were being properly cared for, George Bush has said.
The United States president said on Thursday that it was "utterly ridiculous" for anyone to suggest that David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib were being tortured at Guantanamo Bay, where the pair have been held since late 2001, along with around 600 other detainees.
He said the two would be dealt with according to US rules and regulations.
Hicks was captured fighting for the Taliban in Afghanistan in November 2001. Habib was not arrested in battle, but seized as he crossed from Pakistan into Afghanistan in October 2001, three weeks after the September 11 attacks.
"The prime minister (John Howard) and I have talked about the procedures and I assured him these people will be taken care of in a way that conforms with our rules and regulations," Bush said.
But this was of no comfort to Habib's wife, Maha, and her 18-year-old son Ahmed, who were in parliament in Canberra to hear Bush's address earlier on Thursday.
"I was hoping to achieve something today.
"But unfortunately I was really disappointed that Mr George Bush was saying wonderful things about freedom, democracy, justice and dignity but where does my husband stand?" a tired and pale Maha said.
Maha, a mother of four, had written a letter to the president pleading for the return of her husband.
Politician Kerry Nettle unsuccessfully tried to deliver it to Bush as he left the parliament following his address.
Ahmed was dragged out of the public gallery by security guards after yelling out: "Hey Bush, what about my dad?"
He stood and yelled, before security guards removed him with his arms pinned behind his back.