Guantanamo: 6 could be freed

2005-07-21 11:45

Washington - Eight detainees were transferred from the United States military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba to other countries, including six who were found not to be enemy combatants or recommended for release, the Pentagon said.

One detainee was released to Sudan, two to Afghanistan, three to Saudi Arabia, one to Jordan and one whose extradition was sought by Spain, it said in a statement.

"During the course of the war on terrorism, the department expects that there will be other transfers or releases of detainees," the Pentagon said.

The transfers left around 510 "war on terror" suspects in detention at Guantanamo, most of whom have been held there since the fall of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in late 2001.

The Pentagon earlier this week announced plans to resume trials by military tribunals of four detainees and to bring charges against eight more.

But the others are being held without charge as enemy combatants.

Among those transferred from the prison, three were released after a tribunal determined that they were not enemy combatants. One was sent back to Sudan, the other to Saudi Arabia and the third to Jordan.

Three others were released after an administrative review board decided they no longer posed a risk or were of no intelligence value. Two were sent to Afghanistan and the other to Saudi Arabia.

Another was transferred to Spain to face charges of belonging to an al-Qaeda cell that allegedly helped plan the September 11 2001 attacks in the United States.

Spanish officials said Lahcen Ikassrien, alias Sheikh Hassan, was turned over to Spanish authorities on Monday at Torrejon military airport outside Madrid.

An eighth ex-detainee was transferred to Saudi Arabia after it was deemed he was no longer considered a threat, a defense official said.

The Saudi interior ministry earlier on Wednesday announced the repatriation of the three Saudi detainees.

- AFP