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US judge orders Algerians freed US judge orders Algerians freed
(30 minutes later)
Five Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay for almost seven years must be freed, a US judge has ruled.Five Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay for almost seven years must be freed, a US judge has ruled.
Judge Richard Leon said the government had failed to prove they had planned to go to Afghanistan to fight US troops.Judge Richard Leon said the government had failed to prove they had planned to go to Afghanistan to fight US troops.
The men were arrested in Bosnia shortly after the 9/11 attacks and have been held without charge ever since.The men were arrested in Bosnia shortly after the 9/11 attacks and have been held without charge ever since.
They are the first group of inmates to challenge their detention in civilian courts since the US Supreme Court ruled that they could in June.They are the first group of inmates to challenge their detention in civilian courts since the US Supreme Court ruled that they could in June.
Judge Leon ruled that the government had "failed to show by burden of proof" that the men were heading to Afghanistan to link up with Taleban fighters. 'No proof'
But US authorities could continue to detain a sixth man, Belkacem Bensayah, in the detention centre in Cuba, he ruled. The group were detained by Bosnian authorities in October 2001 and sent to Guantanamo Bay in January 2002.
They were initially accused of plotting to bomb the US embassy in Sarajevo, but these allegations were dropped.
US authorities also accused the men of planning to go to Afghanistan to link up with Taleban and al-Qaeda fighters.
But Judge Leon said that the government had "failed to show by burden of proof" that this was the case.
A sixth Algerian, Belkacem Bensayah, who was detained along with the group, should remain in custody, he ruled.
The government had established he was "more likely than not" planning to go to Afghanistan, he said.
The judge called on the US government to take all necessary steps to allow the release of the five men "forthwith".
US President-elect Barack Obama has promised to close the controversial Guantanamo Bay camp, where about 250 detainees remain.