英國想要關塔那摩被拘留者

海峽4新聞

外交部長，大衛Miliband，給敦促五位前英國居民的發行美國政府寫仍然舉行在關塔那摩海灣。

因為他們不是英國的公民，移動扭轉布萊爾管理的政策不急切要求他們的發行。

外交部認為它根據美國採取的最近步驟在關塔那摩回顧了政策減少被拘留者的數量。

政府早先認為這五個人不有效地是英國的事務，因為他們不是英國的主題。

But today the government said that in the light of US steps to reduce the number of detainees and move towards the closure of the camp it was changing its mind.

Although the foreign secretary has today written requesting their release, a deal may have been wrapped up at the Prime Minister’s trip to Camp David last week.

The foreign secretary’s letter is unlikely to be a surprise delivery at the state department.

Foreign Office statement

“The Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary have reviewed the Government’s approach to this group of individuals in light of these ongoing developments, our long-held policy aim of securing the closure of Guantanamo Bay, and the need to maintain national security.”

The five men are all former residents of the UK. They’d been granted refugee status: indefinite or exceptional leave to remain in Britain.

One of the five - Jamil el Banna - was arrested along with Bishar al Rawi who spoke to Channel 4 News last week.

In fact the government was already under pressure over Mr el Banna’s detention at Guantanamo. The High Court had given the Home Secretary until Thursday to decide whether he could return to his family in London. Now he will be able to.

Key to all of this has been a change of US policy to allow countries like Britain to start negotiating over the fate of non-British nationals.

Negotiations which the Foreign Office has warned could take some time.

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