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UK Guantanamo detainee Shaker Aamer to be released UK Guantanamo detainee Shaker Aamer to be released
(35 minutes later)
The last British resident being held in Guantanamo Bay is to be returned to the UK, the government has said.The last British resident being held in Guantanamo Bay is to be returned to the UK, the government has said.
Shaker Aamer, who has been in the military prison in Cuba since 2002, has never been charged or been on trial. Shaker Aamer, 46, who has been in the military prison in Cuba since 2002, has never been charged or been on trial.
Since 2007 the Saudi national has been cleared for release twice by presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama. Since 2007 he has been cleared for release twice, by US presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.
He has permission to live in the UK indefinitely because his wife is a British national. They have four children and live in London. The Saudi national has permission to live in the UK indefinitely because his wife is British. They have four children and live in London.
"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," the government spokesman said. His daughter Johina, 17, who last saw her father when she was four years old, tweeted: "Thank you everyone for all the support.
"The news hasn't hit yet. We can't believe we might finally see our dad after 14 years."
A 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.
"In terms of next steps, we understand that the US government has notified Congress of this decision and once that notice period has been concluded, Mr Aamer will be returned to the UK.""In terms of next steps, we understand that the US government has notified Congress of this decision and once that notice period has been concluded, Mr Aamer will be returned to the UK."
'Travesty of justice' The BBC understands that the earliest date Mr Aamer could be released to the UK is 25 October.
The US Congress, by law, is allowed a 30-day notification window to review the inmate transfer.
Mr Aamer was detained in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2001. US authorities allege he had led a unit of Taliban fighters and had met former al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.Mr Aamer was detained in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2001. US authorities allege he had led a unit of Taliban fighters and had met former al-Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden.
But Mr Aamer has maintained he was in Afghanistan with his family doing charity work.But Mr Aamer has maintained he was in Afghanistan with his family doing charity work.
Analysis
By BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner
The release of Shaker Aamer from Guantanamo Bay prison after 13 years there without trial follows a lengthy campaign for his release by numerous high-profile figures on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mr Aamer was picked up in Afghanistan in late 2001 on suspicion of playing a leading role in an al-Qaeda cell but his supporters say he was sold into captivity by bounty hunters.
He was then "rendered" from one detention centre to another, transferred to Cuba and never formally charged.
His lawyer says he is innocent and he was twice cleared for release by US presidents, in 2007 and 2009.
Once he arrives in Britain he is likely to be subject to some oversight by the authorities, part of the deal for his release.
But after his long incarceration without trial, during which he says he was tortured, he will be under pressure to tell his story.
Former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg told the BBC: "Shaker of course has been subjected to almost 14 years without charge or trial in Guantanamo, spending a huge amount of his time in solitary confinement.
"He lost more than half his body weight at several junctures during that period because of the hunger strikes he'd had to go on.
"He's been force fed, with tubes forced into his nose, being strapped down to a chair, with his head and his legs also tied down."
'Travesty of justice'
Mr Begg said "no amount of therapy" would replace the years Mr Aamer has spent imprisoned.
"I think this will be a harder struggle for Shaker Aamer to deal with than the actual imprisonment," he said.
Mr Aamer's lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith of the campaign group Reprieve, said his return to the UK was "about 13 years too late".
Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said the news was a "huge relief" for Mr Aamer's family and supporters, who have "worked tirelessly" for his release.Amnesty International UK director Kate Allen said the news was a "huge relief" for Mr Aamer's family and supporters, who have "worked tirelessly" for his release.
"Let's not forget that his 13-year ordeal at Guantanamo has been an absolute travesty of justice," she said."Let's not forget that his 13-year ordeal at Guantanamo has been an absolute travesty of justice," she said.
"Shaker Aamer is the last UK resident to finally get out of Guantanamo and his return to Britain brings a long, painful chapter to a close.""Shaker Aamer is the last UK resident to finally get out of Guantanamo and his return to Britain brings a long, painful chapter to a close."