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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK Guantanamo man 'to be freed' | UK Guantanamo man 'to be freed' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A British resident is to be released from Guantanamo Bay, the Foreign Office has announced. | A British resident is to be released from Guantanamo Bay, the Foreign Office has announced. |
| Bisher al-Rawi, an Iraqi national, has been held at the US detention camp in Cuba for almost five years on suspicion of links to terrorism. | Bisher al-Rawi, an Iraqi national, has been held at the US detention camp in Cuba for almost five years on suspicion of links to terrorism. |
| In a statement, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said it had been agreed with the US authorities that he would be returned to the UK shortly. | In a statement, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said it had been agreed with the US authorities that he would be returned to the UK shortly. |
| The move followed extensive discussions over security implications, she said. | The move followed extensive discussions over security implications, she said. |
| "The UK will continue to take the necessary measures to maintain national and international security," Mrs Beckett added. | "The UK will continue to take the necessary measures to maintain national and international security," Mrs Beckett added. |
| She said discussions with Americans had gone on for one year. | |
| 'Relieved' | 'Relieved' |
| Mr al-Rawi, a businessman from New Malden in south-west London, was arrested along with his Jordanian business partner, Jamil el-Banna, on a business trip to Gambia in 2002 on suspicion of links to terrorism. | |
| Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey, who has been campaigning on behalf of his constituent, welcomed the news. | Kingston and Surbiton MP Edward Davey, who has been campaigning on behalf of his constituent, welcomed the news. |
| "I am relieved that after nearly five years in prison without charge or trial, my constituent is now being released from Guantanamo Bay," he said. | "I am relieved that after nearly five years in prison without charge or trial, my constituent is now being released from Guantanamo Bay," he said. |
| "Bisher's family have suffered hugely and I am utterly delighted for them that their loved one will soon be returning." | |
| The British government now have a clear moral duty to intervene on behalf of Jamil Sarah Teather, MP | |
| Mr Davey said that everything he had learned from Mr al-Rawi's family, lawyers and government officials showed he was not and never had been a "threat to national or international security". | Mr Davey said that everything he had learned from Mr al-Rawi's family, lawyers and government officials showed he was not and never had been a "threat to national or international security". |
| Amnesty International UK said Mr al-Rawi's release was a "huge relief", but said the UK had played a "shadowy role" in Mr Al-Rawi and Mr el-Banna's arrests, and urged an independent inquiry into any UK complicity with Guantanamo detentions. | |
| "These men should also be entitled to reparation from the US for their unlawful imprisonment," said director Kate Allen. | |
| The group also urged the UK government to make "strong representations" for the return of at least seven other UK residents still held at the camp. | |
| Zachary Katznelson, of UK charity Reprieve, visited Mr al-Rawi in Guantanamo in November 2006. | |
| The lawyer said Mr al-Rawi had been held in isolation since March that year and was having a mental breakdown. | |
| Mr al-Rawi reportedly came to England in 1985 after his father was arrested by Saddam Hussein's secret police. | Mr al-Rawi reportedly came to England in 1985 after his father was arrested by Saddam Hussein's secret police. |
| He had lived in the UK for nearly 20 years. His immediate family are UK nationals, but he retained Iraqi citizenship. | He had lived in the UK for nearly 20 years. His immediate family are UK nationals, but he retained Iraqi citizenship. |
| There has been no signal that his friend, Mr el-Banna, will also be released. | |
| In January, his 10-year-old son joined a Downing Street protest urging the prime minister to lobby for both men's release. | |
| His MP, Sarah Teather, for Brent East, said: "Both have been detained and tortured with no respect for international law. | |
| "The British government now have a clear moral duty to intervene on behalf of Jamil." |