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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Guantanamo three returning to UK | Guantanamo three returning to UK |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Three British residents held by the US at Guantanamo Bay have been released after more than four-and-a-half years and will arrive back in the UK later. | |
| 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. |
| The men's lawyers said their clients had all agreed to "voluntary security arrangements" upon their return home. | |
| The government said their immigration status would be reviewed immediately. | |
| 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. |
| 'Brutal treatment' | |
| A Home Office statement said the US had agreed to the releases on 10 December. | |
| "This does not imply a commitment on our part that they can remain permanently in the UK and their immigration status will be reviewed immediately following their return," the statement added. | |
| I'm extremely relieved that Omar's ordeal is finally coming to end after over five years of suffering in Guantanamo Amani Deghayes | |
| 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. | 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." | "It happens that today is Eid so it is particularly poignant." |
| 'Dangerous' accusation | 'Dangerous' accusation |
| The Americans accuse Palestinian 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 Palestinian 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 | 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". | 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." | "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". | 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". |