The British family of Guantanamo detainee Shakar Aamer, who has twice been cleared for release by US authorities, have pleaded for Prime Minister David Cameron to again raise his case with President Barack Obama.<\/p>\n
Shakar Aamer\u2019s family called on Cameron to intervene after it emerged that US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who gives final authorization to free prisoners from Guantanamo, said Aamer\u2019s name was \u201cnot on his desk<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Hagel\u2019s admission follows President Barack Obama\u2019s promise to prioritize the case of Aamer during a meeting with Cameron at the White House last month.<\/p>\n British officials hope to persuade US authorities to return Aamer to the UK amid fears he could be sent to Saudi Arabia, the country of his birth.<\/p>\n It is believed the father of four will not be safe if he is dispatched to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n Lawyers for the British resident have written to Cameron asking what assurances Obama gave him during his meeting last month.<\/p>\n Clive Stafford Smith, Aamer\u2019s lawyer and director of humans rights group Reprieve, described Obama\u2019s pledge as \u201cweasel words<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe US Defense Secretary\u2019s admission that Shaker\u2019s case isn\u2019t even on his desk suggests that Obama\u2019s claims to be \u2018prioritizing\u2019 it may be little more than weasel words,<\/em>\u201d Stafford Smith said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cComing just days after David Cameron personally requested that Shaker be returned home to Britain, it doesn\u2019t say much for the state of the \u2018special relationship.<\/em>\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n