Guantanamo four to be freed

The US has attempted to reduce the prison population at Guantanamo Bay.

Saturday, 08, Dec 2007 12:00

Four of the five British residents held without trial by the US at Guantanamo Bay are to be released, it has emerged.

Foreign secretary David Miliband formally wrote to his US counterpart Condoleeza Rice in August to request the release of the men, after the British government had previously refused to intervene as the men were not British citizens.

Jamil El Banna of Jordan, Omar Deghayes of Libya and Abdenour Sameur of Algeria will all be returned to Britain shortly, while reports suggest Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer will return to his native Saudi Arabia.

Zachary Katznelson, a lawyer for the firm representing the three men returning to Britain, told the Reuters news agency the detainees are not expected to remain in custody upon arrival.

"I can confirm to you that the British government has reached an agreement with the Americans that the men will be repatriated to England, where they are all legal permanent residents," he said.

"They actually all got asylum from their home countries."

Mr Katznelson added: "We're of course thrilled by the news that their ordeal in Guantanamo will hopefully soon be over. Guantanamo is a lawless place. No one should be held here without charge, without trial. And these men have received nothing here in the way of justice. Nothing at all."

Mr el-Banna had been accused of being a prominent al-Qaeda recruiter and financier, Libyan Mr Deghayes was charged with associating with al-Qaeda, and Algerian Mr Sameur of receiving combat training in Afghanistan.

Pentagon spokesman JD Gordon did not confirm the release, but said the US has been trying to transfer some prisoners.

"We've been hard at work with the international community for quite some time to encourage other governments to accept detainees held at Guantanamo in order to reduce the population there," he explained.