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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Guantanamo inmate 'released soon' | Guantanamo inmate 'released soon' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A British resident held at Guantanamo Bay is to be released "as soon as practical arrangements can be made", the Foreign Office has said. | |
| Binyam Mohamed, 30, will return to the UK after more than four years at the controversial US military base in Cuba. | Binyam Mohamed, 30, will return to the UK after more than four years at the controversial US military base in Cuba. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said agreement had been reached between the UK and US governments on his transfer. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said agreement had been reached between the UK and US governments on his transfer. |
| But the UK government will not press for the remaining UK resident Shaker Aamer to be freed, the BBC has learned. | But the UK government will not press for the remaining UK resident Shaker Aamer to be freed, the BBC has learned. |
| The US government has previously refused requests to release Mr Aamer and a Foreign Office spokesman said Britain is "no longer in active discussions" for his release. | The US government has previously refused requests to release Mr Aamer and a Foreign Office spokesman said Britain is "no longer in active discussions" for his release. |
| 'Huge relief' | 'Huge relief' |
| Mr Mohamed, who was arrested in Pakistan, claims he was tortured into falsely confessing to terrorism and alleges MI5 officers were complicit in his abuse. | Mr Mohamed, who was arrested in Pakistan, claims he was tortured into falsely confessing to terrorism and alleges MI5 officers were complicit in his abuse. |
| The Ethiopian-born detainee has been held at Guantanamo since September 2004.Protests to free Mr Mohamed outside the US Embassy in London | The Ethiopian-born detainee has been held at Guantanamo since September 2004.Protests to free Mr Mohamed outside the US Embassy in London |
| Earlier this year he went on hunger strike for more than a month, and was described by his legal team as "close to starvation". | Earlier this year he went on hunger strike for more than a month, and was described by his legal team as "close to starvation". |
| He was declared well enough to travel back to the UK last weekend by a team of British officials who had visited him. | He was declared well enough to travel back to the UK last weekend by a team of British officials who had visited him. |
| Former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg said more than 50 inmates had been released from the centre, including 12 or 13 Britons, but everyone left should be moved. | |
| He said: "None of them, after the many years that we've been released, has been involved in acts of terrorism or acts of violence. | |
| "In fact, we've been hired helping to try to build the bridges that were burnt by this government in carrying out its war on terror and attacks against civil liberties." | |
| The US Department of Justice declined to comment on the individual case of Mr Mohamed and said it was policy not to do so until a transfer had actually happened. | The US Department of Justice declined to comment on the individual case of Mr Mohamed and said it was policy not to do so until a transfer had actually happened. |
| 'Long overdue' | |
| Amnesty International said the release would be a "huge relief" but called for other prisoners to also be immediately freed or allowed fair trials. | Amnesty International said the release would be a "huge relief" but called for other prisoners to also be immediately freed or allowed fair trials. |
| UK director Kate Allen said: "It's nothing short of a disgrace that Binyam has been held in harsh conditions for all these years, having to resort to a hunger strike to raise awareness of his plight." | UK director Kate Allen said: "It's nothing short of a disgrace that Binyam has been held in harsh conditions for all these years, having to resort to a hunger strike to raise awareness of his plight." |
| Campaign group Reprieve also welcomed the news. | Campaign group Reprieve also welcomed the news. |
| Director Clive Stafford Smith said: "This is truly wonderful news for Binyam Mohamed, who wants nothing more than to return to normal life in Britain." The attorney general has a huge responsibility on her shoulders Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat | Director Clive Stafford Smith said: "This is truly wonderful news for Binyam Mohamed, who wants nothing more than to return to normal life in Britain." The attorney general has a huge responsibility on her shoulders Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat |
| Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said the release was "long overdue". | Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said the release was "long overdue". |
| "With Mr Mohamed back in the UK, the government will have to come clean over any British role in his alleged rendition and torture," he said. | "With Mr Mohamed back in the UK, the government will have to come clean over any British role in his alleged rendition and torture," he said. |
| "The attorney general has a huge responsibility on her shoulders. There can be no political influence into the direction of this investigation." | "The attorney general has a huge responsibility on her shoulders. There can be no political influence into the direction of this investigation." |
| Mr Mohamed claims he was secretly flown from Pakistan to Morocco and tortured before being moved to Afghanistan and on to Guantanamo Bay. | Mr Mohamed claims he was secretly flown from Pakistan to Morocco and tortured before being moved to Afghanistan and on to Guantanamo Bay. |
| The US accused him of involvement in a "dirty bomb" terror plot but all charges against him were dropped. | The US accused him of involvement in a "dirty bomb" terror plot but all charges against him were dropped. |
| The attorney general is consulting the director of public prosecutions over whether to order a criminal investigation into Mr Mohamed's torture claims. | The attorney general is consulting the director of public prosecutions over whether to order a criminal investigation into Mr Mohamed's torture claims. |
| The allegations are also at the centre of a legal row involving two High Court judges. | The allegations are also at the centre of a legal row involving two High Court judges. |
| They have complained that Mr Miliband blocked them from making public information relating to the case, for national security reasons. | They have complained that Mr Miliband blocked them from making public information relating to the case, for national security reasons. |
| Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the decision to release Mr Mohamed should now pave the way for the information to be released. | |
| He said: "There is [now] no reason for the government not to ask the US to allow the controversial paragraphs related to his case to be published." |