Sunday 14 June 2009

Yemenis in Guantanamo will be transferred to Yemen not to Saudi Arabia, officials



By Nasser Arrabyee 14/05/2009

The Yemeni government denied reports that the Yemeni detainees in Guantanamo or some of them will be transferred to Saudi Arabia.

"Yemen and United States are still discussing the issue of transferring the Yemeni detainees to Yemen in a way that will protect their rights and end their sufferings," said a statement from Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal quoted unnamed American officials as saying that a deal was being made to transfer the first group of 20 Yemeni detainees in Guantanamo to the Saudi rehabilitation centre in Riyadh.

The issue of nearly 100 Yemenis of the 239 still languishing in the notorious detention of Guantanamo, is considered to be the biggest challenge facing the Obama's decision to close the detention next January.

The Americans do not trust the ability of the Yemeni government to control the men and prevent them from getting back to fight with Al Qaeda if they are released.

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