Family cautious at Omar's release

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Family and friends of a Brighton man held in Guantanamo Bay without charge since 2002 have reacted cautiously to the news he is being released.

Libyan-born Omar Deghayes, 38, is among four British residents set to be freed from the US detention camp in Cuba, the BBC has learned.

His brother Abubaker said he would not celebrate until Mr Deghayes "physically comes home".

The government has not confirmed the move and a release date is unknown.

Mr Deghayes and his family came to the UK in 1986 as political refugees from Libya.

He grew up in the Saltdean area of Brighton and went to university to study law.

'Detailed discussions'

He travelled to Afghanistan, where he married and had a son, but was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 after the US-led campaign against the Taleban.

Jackie Chase, from the Save Omar Campaign, said: "Anyone who was travelling across the border was under suspicion at that time."

Mr Deghayes was then imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay and accused by American forces of associating with al-Qaeda.

His lawyers and supporters have said a photograph allegedly proving the claim did not actually show Mr Deghayes at all.

Abubaker Deghayes and Jackie Chase have their fingers crossed

His brother insisted: "Omar is a very law-abiding person, he's never broken the law."

Lawyer Clive Stafford-Smith said on Saturday: "There's no doubt that the agreement has been struck, that they will return home. The question is, when?"

The government asked America in August for the release of the detained British citizens.

On Saturday, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office would only say: "We have held detailed discussions with the US... and are in contact with the families and legal representatives of those concerned."

Mr Deghayes' brother said: "I feel happy, any news is good news, but we should be a bit cautious until we see him back home.

"We don't know what his health and mental condition is.

"We hope that he will be able to cope and adapt quickly to life outside Guantanamo, and get this episode behind him and start to rebuild the shattered pieces of his life."