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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. | 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 judge earlier ruled Hamdan could have 61 months' credit for time served so he 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. | 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. | 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 HamdanTimeline: 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. |
| Our correspondent says Hamdan looked nervous as he walked in for sentencing but after hearing it, he told jurors: "I would like to apologise one more time to all the members and I would like to thank you for what you have done for me." | |
| The judge said he hoped Hamdan would one day be able to return to his wife and his country. | |
| Hamdan, who is aged about 40, smiled as he left court and said thank you to those in the room. | |
| 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 quickly announced an appeal after the conviction and it is believed that that appeal will still go ahead. | |
| Hamdan 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. |