US to free last British inmate of Gitmo
The last British inmate in US captivity in Guantanamo is set to be released after 13 years.
Shaker Aamer was held in the jail accused of being a terrorist but he was never charged officially by the US authorities.
He will be free in 30 days after the US administration informed the Congress that it decided to release him back to the UK.
This comes after years of wrangling between the US and the UK which has been among key players in Washington’s efforts to counter terrorism.
Aamer has repeatedly said he has been tortured in the jail accusing UK government of complicity.
The US army has claimed he had significant ties to al-Qaeda Leader Osama bin Laden.
Media reports say, Obama has informed UK Prime Minister David Cameron of the decision during a phone call on Thursday.
According to US defense sources, Aamer’s release was approved following a “thorough review of his case and taking into consideration the robust security assurances that will be provided by the British government”.
A spokesman of the British government spokesman said: “The government has regularly raised Mr Aamer’s case with the US authorities and we support President Obama’s commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.”
Aamer’s lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith said he should be released immediately: “British politicians may bombasticate about our ‘robust and effective systems to deal with suspected terrorists’ but Shaker is not and never has been a terrorist, and has been cleared by the Americans themselves for eight years.
“I hope the authorities will understand that he has been tortured and abused for more than a decade, and what he wants most is to be left alone with his family to start rebuilding his life,” he said.
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