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Two Guantanamo Bay detainees released

19 December 2007, 12:24PM

Great developments this week with the news that two men - both Sudanese nationals - who were being held at the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba have been released.

The two men, Adel Hamad (who featured in Guantanamo case sheet 21 and AMR 51/032/2007, February 2007) and Salim Adem Bin Amir, were transferred out of Guantanamo on about 16 December 2007. We will be monitoring their return to Sudan and will keep you updated on any developments. Thirteen Afghani nationals were returned to Afghanistan from Guantanamo less than a week earlier, on 12 December 2007. There are now about 290 detainees still held at Guantanamo.

More great news is that four of the six former United Kingdom residents in Guanatanamo are to be transferred. Three of the men, Jamil el-Banna (who featured in case sheet 3), Omar Deghayes (the subject of case sheet 8) and Abdulnour Sameur are to be returned to the UK. Saudi Arabian national Shaker Aamer (who featured in case sheet 3) is to be returned to Saudi Arabia at his own request.

The other two former UK residents detained in Guantanamo - Benyam Mohammed al-Habashi (case sheet 12) and Ahmed Belbacha (the subject of Urgent Action AMR 51/130/2007, August 2007) - were not mentioned in the announcement. We are questioning why they were not mentioned and will continue to campaign on their behalf.

At this stage all of the former UK residents remain detained in Guantanamo - we will continue to update you on the situation and will inform you when their transfer happens.

The organisation Cageprisoners is arranging for messages of support to be sent to the four UK residents on their return. Messages can be sent to contact@cageprisoners.com.

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