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Kuwaiti Guantanamo Bay inmate sent home | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
One of the longest-held detainees at the US facility at Guantanamo Bay, a Kuwaiti man, has been sent home, officials say. | |
Fawzi al-Odah, 37, was released after a US review panel concluded he was not a "continuing significant threat". | Fawzi al-Odah, 37, was released after a US review panel concluded he was not a "continuing significant threat". |
He had been at the US facility in Cuba since 2002 after his arrest in Pakistan on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda and the Taliban - a charge he denies. | He had been at the US facility in Cuba since 2002 after his arrest in Pakistan on suspicion of links to al-Qaeda and the Taliban - a charge he denies. |
He had challenged America's right to detain him in the US Supreme Court. | He had challenged America's right to detain him in the US Supreme Court. |
'Excitement and joy' | 'Excitement and joy' |
Mr Odah boarded a Kuwaiti government plane on Wednesday morning US time. | Mr Odah boarded a Kuwaiti government plane on Wednesday morning US time. |
"There's no bitterness, there's no anger," his lawyer Eric Lewis was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "There's no bitterness, there's no anger," his lawyer Eric Lewis was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
"There's just excitement and joy that he will be going home." | "There's just excitement and joy that he will be going home." |
The release came after Guantanamo's Periodic Review Board in July determined "that continued law of war detention of (Mr Odah) does not remain necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States". | The release came after Guantanamo's Periodic Review Board in July determined "that continued law of war detention of (Mr Odah) does not remain necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States". |
But he now faces at least a year at a militant rehabilitation centre in Kuwait, according to the terms of the release. | But he now faces at least a year at a militant rehabilitation centre in Kuwait, according to the terms of the release. |
The Kuwaiti government had pushed hard for the release of all Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo. | The Kuwaiti government had pushed hard for the release of all Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo. |
Mr Odah had argued that he travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan to teach the Koran and provide humanitarian aid. | Mr Odah had argued that he travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan to teach the Koran and provide humanitarian aid. |
He is the first inmate to be freed since May, when five Taliban detainees were exchanged for US Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, who had been kept by the insurgents in Afghanistan. | He is the first inmate to be freed since May, when five Taliban detainees were exchanged for US Sgt Bowe Bergdahl, who had been kept by the insurgents in Afghanistan. |
Mr Odah's release brings down the total number of inmates at the US naval base to 148. | Mr Odah's release brings down the total number of inmates at the US naval base to 148. |
The US opened the facility in January 2002, following the 11 September 2001 attacks in America. | |
President Barack Obama has repeatedly promised to shut it down. | President Barack Obama has repeatedly promised to shut it down. |