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| Bin Laden driver given 66 months | Bin Laden driver given 66 months |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Osama Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. | Osama Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison at the first US military trial in Guantanamo Bay. |
| Salim Hamdan was convicted on Wednesday of supporting terrorism, but acquitted of conspiracy to murder. | |
| Prosecutors had demanded a sentence of not less than 30 years but Hamdan, a Yemeni, had pleaded for leniency. | Prosecutors had demanded a sentence of not less than 30 years but Hamdan, a Yemeni, had pleaded for leniency. |
| The military judge earlier ruled Hamdan could have 61 months' credit for time served so may be free in five months. | |
| However, the US has previously argued it can detain all those it determines "enemy combatants" indefinitely as long as its so-called war on terror continues. | |
| The BBC's Kim Ghattas at the trial says the sentence is a dramatic snub to the Bush administration and came after just one-and-a-half hours of deliberation. | |
| Regret | Regret |
| The jury of six US military officers, not the judge, imposed the sentence under the tribunal rules. | The jury of six US military officers, not the judge, imposed the sentence under the tribunal rules. |
| HAMDAN CHARGES Conspiracy:Not guilty of two counts of conspiring with al-Qaeda to attack civilians, destroy property and commit murderProviding support for terrorism:Guilty on five counts, including being the driver and bodyguard for Osama Bin Laden, a man he knew to be the leader of a terrorist group. Not guilty on three other counts Profile: Salim HamdanSend us your commentsTimeline: Al-Qaeda | HAMDAN CHARGES Conspiracy:Not guilty of two counts of conspiring with al-Qaeda to attack civilians, destroy property and commit murderProviding support for terrorism:Guilty on five counts, including being the driver and bodyguard for Osama Bin Laden, a man he knew to be the leader of a terrorist group. Not guilty on three other counts Profile: Salim HamdanSend us your commentsTimeline: Al-Qaeda |
| "It is my duty as president [of the jury] to inform you that this military commission sentences you to be confined for 66 months," a juror told Hamdan. | "It is my duty as president [of the jury] to inform you that this military commission sentences you to be confined for 66 months," a juror told Hamdan. |
| In his earlier appeal for leniency to the jury, Hamdan said in a prepared statement: "It's true there are work opportunities in Yemen, but not at the level I needed after I got married and not to the level of ambitions that I had in my future." | In his earlier appeal for leniency to the jury, Hamdan said in a prepared statement: "It's true there are work opportunities in Yemen, but not at the level I needed after I got married and not to the level of ambitions that I had in my future." |
| He said he regretted the loss of "innocent lives". | He said he regretted the loss of "innocent lives". |
| The White House earlier said the trial was "fair", although the defence team had announced an appeal after the conviction. | The White House earlier said the trial was "fair", although the defence team had announced an appeal after the conviction. |
| Hamdan, who is aged about 40, had admitted working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but said he worked for wages, not to wage war on the US. | Hamdan, who is aged about 40, had admitted working for Bin Laden in Afghanistan from 1997 to 2001 for $200 (£99) a month, but said he worked for wages, not to wage war on the US. |
| Convicting him on five counts of aiding terrorism, the jury accepted he was a member of al-Qaeda who had served as Bin Laden's armed bodyguard and driver while knowing that the al-Qaeda leader was plotting attacks against the US. | Convicting him on five counts of aiding terrorism, the jury accepted he was a member of al-Qaeda who had served as Bin Laden's armed bodyguard and driver while knowing that the al-Qaeda leader was plotting attacks against the US. |
| But he was found not guilty on three other counts of aiding terrorism, alleging that he knew that his work would be used for terrorism and that he provided surface-to-air missiles to al-Qaeda. | But he was found not guilty on three other counts of aiding terrorism, alleging that he knew that his work would be used for terrorism and that he provided surface-to-air missiles to al-Qaeda. |
| He was also cleared of two charges of conspiracy, alleging that he was part of the al-Qaeda effort to attack the US - the most serious charges he faced. | He was also cleared of two charges of conspiracy, alleging that he was part of the al-Qaeda effort to attack the US - the most serious charges he faced. |
| About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. | About 270 suspects remain in detention in Guantanamo Bay. |
| Among the dozens of other inmates due to be tried there in the coming months are men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. | Among the dozens of other inmates due to be tried there in the coming months are men accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks. |