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Fate of Brit Guantanamo detainees to be resolved soon: Powell
London, Nov 20: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected the controversial issue of British detainees held at a US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would soon be resolved.
London, Nov 20: US Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected the controversial issue of British detainees held at a US military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would soon be resolved.
The US military is holding nine Britons among the 660
persons from 42 countries at Guantanamo Bay.
The Bush administration says the detainees, many of whom were swept up during the US-led war that ousted the Taliban regime from Afghanistan at the end of 2001, are all enemy combatants ineligible for due legal process.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to broach the issue during talks with Bush in London today. Powell told yesterday: "With respect to the detainees, I can assure you that the President is very sensitive to the views of the Prime Minister and the British people about the detainees issue."
A media organistation interpreted that as a strong signal that Bush could agree to release the nine British prisoners at Guantanamo to stand trial in Britain if there was a specific request for the move from Blair.
Following the July announcement that two Britons were among the first six detainees Bush declared eligible for trial by military commission, the British government raised concerns about the legal process. After a storm of criticism, Bush gave assurances that US military prosecutors would not seek the death penalty against two British nationals, Feroz Abbasi, 23, and Moazzam Begg, 35.
Bureau Report
The Bush administration says the detainees, many of whom were swept up during the US-led war that ousted the Taliban regime from Afghanistan at the end of 2001, are all enemy combatants ineligible for due legal process.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to broach the issue during talks with Bush in London today. Powell told yesterday: "With respect to the detainees, I can assure you that the President is very sensitive to the views of the Prime Minister and the British people about the detainees issue."
A media organistation interpreted that as a strong signal that Bush could agree to release the nine British prisoners at Guantanamo to stand trial in Britain if there was a specific request for the move from Blair.
Following the July announcement that two Britons were among the first six detainees Bush declared eligible for trial by military commission, the British government raised concerns about the legal process. After a storm of criticism, Bush gave assurances that US military prosecutors would not seek the death penalty against two British nationals, Feroz Abbasi, 23, and Moazzam Begg, 35.
Bureau Report