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Guantanamo three returning to UK | Guantanamo three returning to UK |
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Three British residents held by the US at Guantanamo Bay have been released and will arrive back in the UK later, the BBC has learned. | Three British residents held by the US at Guantanamo Bay have been released and will arrive back in the UK later, the BBC has learned. |
Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes and Abdenour Samuer are on board a chartered aircraft along with a doctor and Metropolitan Police officers. | Jamil el-Banna, Omar Deghayes and Abdenour Samuer are on board a chartered aircraft along with a doctor and Metropolitan Police officers. |
Another freed UK resident, Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, is expected to return to his native Saudi Arabia. | Another freed UK resident, Shaker Abdur-Raheem Aamer, is expected to return to his native Saudi Arabia. |
A fifth UK resident, Ethiopian Binyam Mohammed, will remain at Guantanamo. | A fifth UK resident, Ethiopian Binyam Mohammed, will remain at Guantanamo. |
I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo Amani Deghayes class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6934782.stm">Guantanamo five class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6241991.stm">Guantanamo timeline class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457023/html/default.stm">How camp evolved | |
The three released men were accompanied by officers from the Met's counter-terrorism unit as well as uniformed officers, whose presence was requested by the Foreign Office. | The three released men were accompanied by officers from the Met's counter-terrorism unit as well as uniformed officers, whose presence was requested by the Foreign Office. |
Omar Deghayes' sister, Amani, said his family would be concentrating on helping him to put his ordeal behind him. | Omar Deghayes' sister, Amani, said his family would be concentrating on helping him to put his ordeal behind him. |
"I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo," she said. | "I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo," she said. |
"We're looking forward to spending the Eid as family together." | "We're looking forward to spending the Eid as family together." |
She said her brother had been on the receiving end of "brutal and illegal treatment". | She said her brother had been on the receiving end of "brutal and illegal treatment". |
Human rights solicitor Gareth Peirce, who has previously represented two of the men, said their families could not wait to see them. | |
"It happens that today is Eid so it is particularly poignant." | |
'Dangerous' accusation | 'Dangerous' accusation |
The Americans accuse Mr el-Banna of being an al-Qaeda recruiter and financier, Libyan Mr Deghayes of associating with al-Qaeda, and Algerian Mr Sameur of being trained for combat in Afghanistan. | The Americans accuse Mr el-Banna of being an al-Qaeda recruiter and financier, Libyan Mr Deghayes of associating with al-Qaeda, and Algerian Mr Sameur of being trained for combat in Afghanistan. |
There have been intensive negotiations between the UK and US authorities over the past few months. | There have been intensive negotiations between the UK and US authorities over the past few months. |
It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain Kate AllenAmnesty International | |
The Pentagon insists that all five of the British residents are dangerous. | The Pentagon insists that all five of the British residents are dangerous. |
About 300 prisoners are held at Guantanamo Bay, set up at a US naval base in Cuba after the invasion of Afghanistan in early 2002. | About 300 prisoners are held at Guantanamo Bay, set up at a US naval base in Cuba after the invasion of Afghanistan in early 2002. |
The US argues that foreign nationals captured and detained outside the US have no recognisable constitutional rights. | The US argues that foreign nationals captured and detained outside the US have no recognisable constitutional rights. |
Amnesty International's UK director, Kate Allen, welcomed the release of the three men and said they should be treated "first and foremost as victims of a serious miscarriage of justice". | |
"It's important that the government speaks out about the hundreds of men still held there - including at least two other men with ties to Britain - Ahmed Belbacha and Binyam Mohammed. These men must not become Guantanamo's forgotten prisoners." | |
She called on ministers to condemn the practices of rendition and secret detention, which the organisation claims "have fed the system at Guantanamo in the past six years". |