Dankdude
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By Duncan Gardham
Last Updated: 2:10am BST 08/08/2007
The request by David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, represented a U-turn by the Government, which had previously resisted moves to force it to take responsibility for the men.
The move also raised concerns over security.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has requested the release of five men
The Government had won cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal after claiming that it had no responsibility to negotiate for the men's release and any attempt to force it to do so would be counter-productive because the US would not negotiate with third countries.
But yesterday the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that it had "requested the release" of five men who were not nationals but were "legally resident" in Britain prior to their detention.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, had been given until Aug 9 by the High Court to decide whether one of the men, Jamil el-Banna, 45, would be allowed to return to live in Britain following his release but the Foreign Office insisted it had not been forced into the move.
Sources said the Government was keen to encourage President George W Bush to close the controversial prison camp in Cuba. Officials said they wanted to "embolden" the US in its approach.
Another consideration was the campaign by the families of the men, who say they should not be separated from their loved ones when the men cannot be brought to trial.
Following a decision by the US Supreme Court last year which halted the military -tribunals at Guantanamo, President Bush said he wanted to see the camp closed. In June Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, said his government was working on getting past the "legal obstacle" to try to find a solution for those it still wished to detain.
Robert Tuttle, the US ambassador to London, said the request would be considered very seriously. "We will get back with all due, deliberate speed," he told the BBC.
The US had insisted that if the former residents were returned to Britain they should be kept under 24-hour surveillance, a move resisted by the Government.
The Foreign Office statement said: "Discussions with the US government about the release and return of these five men may take some time. The Government will of course continue to take all necessary measures to maintain national security."
But the Tories demanded assurances that the public would not be put at risk.
Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, said: "I want to hear from the Home Secretary that there will be no extra danger for the British people if these five men choose to come back to Britain."
The men - Shaker Aamer from Saudi Arabia, Jamil el-Banna from Jordan, Omar Deghayes from Libya, Binyam Mohamed from Ethiopia, and Abdennour Sameur from Algeria - had all been granted refugee status, indefinite leave or exceptional leave to remain in Britain before they were detained.
Last night Mr Aamer's wife Zinnira was away on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia but her father, Saeed Ahmed Siddique, said: "Today is a day of celebration."
Abubaker Deghayes, Omar's brother, said: "Justice is a -pillar of British values and I'm grateful to whoever made the decision in the British Government to take this step. I am delighted the British public sincerely stood by us."
Britain asks US to free five from Guantanamo - Telegraph
Last Updated: 2:10am BST 08/08/2007
The Government called on America yesterday
to release five foreign nationals from Guantanamo Bay
detention centre who were formerly British residents.
to release five foreign nationals from Guantanamo Bay
detention centre who were formerly British residents.
The request by David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, to Condoleezza Rice, the Secretary of State, represented a U-turn by the Government, which had previously resisted moves to force it to take responsibility for the men.
The move also raised concerns over security.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has requested the release of five men
The Government had won cases in the High Court and Court of Appeal after claiming that it had no responsibility to negotiate for the men's release and any attempt to force it to do so would be counter-productive because the US would not negotiate with third countries.
But yesterday the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that it had "requested the release" of five men who were not nationals but were "legally resident" in Britain prior to their detention.
Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, had been given until Aug 9 by the High Court to decide whether one of the men, Jamil el-Banna, 45, would be allowed to return to live in Britain following his release but the Foreign Office insisted it had not been forced into the move.
Sources said the Government was keen to encourage President George W Bush to close the controversial prison camp in Cuba. Officials said they wanted to "embolden" the US in its approach.
Another consideration was the campaign by the families of the men, who say they should not be separated from their loved ones when the men cannot be brought to trial.
Following a decision by the US Supreme Court last year which halted the military -tribunals at Guantanamo, President Bush said he wanted to see the camp closed. In June Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, said his government was working on getting past the "legal obstacle" to try to find a solution for those it still wished to detain.
Robert Tuttle, the US ambassador to London, said the request would be considered very seriously. "We will get back with all due, deliberate speed," he told the BBC.
The US had insisted that if the former residents were returned to Britain they should be kept under 24-hour surveillance, a move resisted by the Government.
The Foreign Office statement said: "Discussions with the US government about the release and return of these five men may take some time. The Government will of course continue to take all necessary measures to maintain national security."
But the Tories demanded assurances that the public would not be put at risk.
Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, said: "I want to hear from the Home Secretary that there will be no extra danger for the British people if these five men choose to come back to Britain."
The men - Shaker Aamer from Saudi Arabia, Jamil el-Banna from Jordan, Omar Deghayes from Libya, Binyam Mohamed from Ethiopia, and Abdennour Sameur from Algeria - had all been granted refugee status, indefinite leave or exceptional leave to remain in Britain before they were detained.
Last night Mr Aamer's wife Zinnira was away on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia but her father, Saeed Ahmed Siddique, said: "Today is a day of celebration."
Abubaker Deghayes, Omar's brother, said: "Justice is a -pillar of British values and I'm grateful to whoever made the decision in the British Government to take this step. I am delighted the British public sincerely stood by us."
Britain asks US to free five from Guantanamo - Telegraph
