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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Guantanamo inmate 'released soon' | Guantanamo inmate 'released soon' |
| (about 4 hours 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. | 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 500 inmates had been released from the centre, including 12 or 13 Britons, but everyone left should be moved. The attorney general has a huge responsibility on her shoulders Edward Davey, Liberal Democrat | |
| 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. | 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." | "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' | '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." | 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." |
| 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. | 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." | 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." |