This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7163682.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Australian Guantanamo man freed | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An Australian convicted by the United States of supporting terrorism has been freed from a prison in Australia. | |
David Hicks, 32, was captured with Taleban forces in Afghanistan in 2001, and spent five years at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. | |
He was the first person to be convicted at a US war crimes trial since the end of the Second World War. | |
Under a plea deal, he was jailed for seven years, with all but nine months suspended, and returned to Australia. | |
Hicks was released from the maximum security prison at Yalata in Adelaide. | |
A federal magistrate has ruled that he remains a security risk, and must report to police three times a week, and keep a midnight to dawn to curfew. | |
David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough Terry HicksFather | |
He will not be allowed to leave Australia, and he cannot give interviews until March. | |
Hicks made no comment as he left the prison, leaving his lawyer David McLeod to read a statement on his behalf. | |
"I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment, it's as simple as that," the statement said. | "I had hoped to be able to speak to the media but I am just not strong enough at the moment, it's as simple as that," the statement said. |
Through his lawyer, Hicks thanked the Australian public for "getting me home". | |
"I will not forget, or let you down." | |
He also said: "I am looking forward to spending some quiet time with my wonderful Dad, my family and friends." | |
His father, Terry Hicks, told the press outside the prison nothing had been proven against his son, and that David did not believe he needed to apologise. | |
"David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough, David has done time for whatever," he said. | "David's done five-and-a-half years pretty tough, David has done time for whatever," he said. |
"It's time for him to settle down." | |
Hicks, a convert to Islam who later renounced the faith, admitted training with al-Qaeda and meeting its leader Osama bin Laden, whom he described as "lovely", according to police evidence presented in court. |