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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 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. |
| 'No proof' | 'No proof' |
| The group were detained by Bosnian authorities in October 2001 and sent to Guantanamo Bay in January 2002. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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". | The judge called on the US government to take all necessary steps to allow the release of the five men "forthwith". |
| But, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington, that does not mean that the men will be freed very promptly. | |
| The US government has the right to appeal against the ruling. | |
| About 250 detainees accused of terrorism or links to al-Qaeda remain in the controversial detention camp in Cuba. Many of them are now in the process of challenging their detention. | |
| US President-elect Barack Obama has promised to close Guantanamo Bay down once he takes office. |