United States to release two Sudanese from Guantanamo

KHARTOUM, Feb 12, 2004 (Sudan Tribune) — The United States is set to turn over to Sudan in the next weeks two Sudanese held at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, the Khartoum based al-Ray Alaam reported today.

Officials from the US embassy in Khartoum notified Sudan’s Ministry of External Relation of this decision and discussed details of the release.

It seems that Sudanese police would fly to the base in Cuba and retrieve the two prisoners, as it was the case for Saudi and Spanish prisoners.

Sudanese government had already been in contact with US officials to ensure the release of the two Sudanese nationals detained in the Cuban prison and the US resolution had been the outcome of these steady contacts.

Us officials acknowledged international criticism of the United States for holding roughly 650 foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay without charges.

Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said on Jan. 16 Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz had agreed to accelerate the process of reviewing Guantanamo prisoners for possible release.

The United States periodically releases small numbers of the detainees. Since the prison opened in January 2002, 87 detainees have been flown out and set free in other countries, while four were transferred to Saudi Arabia for detention, the Pentagon said.