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Guantanamo's last UK resident to be freed

September 25, 2015

Shaker Aamer, the last British resident at the controversial US military prison in Cuba, will be released, according to the UK government. The move follows US President Obama's attempts to close the detention center.

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Shaker Aamer
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

The UK 's Foreign Office announced on Friday that Shaker Aamer would be released to British authorities after spending more than 13 years at the notorious US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

"We have been notified by the US government that it has decided to return Shaker Aamer to the UK," a spokesperson for the British Foreign Office said.

"The government has regularly raised Mr. Aamer's case with US authorities, and we support President Obama's commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay," the spokesperson said.

In 2001, the Afghan Northern Alliance captured Aamer in Tora Bora, and subsequently turned him over to US forces in the country on suspicion of being an al-Qaeda recruiter and financier.

The Saudi-born British resident was transferred to the US detention camp in Cuba after it was opened in 2002, although he was never formally charged.

Aamer was reportedly cleared for release in 2007, but US authorities continued to hold the terror-suspect.

A Twitter account campaigning for his release welcomed the decision, calling the announcement a "reminder that justice prevails, sooner or later."

Aamer's daughter Johina also celebrated the expected release via her Twitter account, saying that she was excited to see her father after 14 years.

The announcement follows recent moves by US President Barack Obama's administration - deep into its latter days in office - seeking to hasten the closure of the controversial prison.

Prior to becoming president in 2008, Obama campaigned on the promise of closing the Guantanamo detention center, a pledge that has proven difficult due to resistance from conservative elements of the Republican Party.

Meanwhile, details regarding the date of Aamer's release were not provided.

"In terms of next steps, we understand that the US government has notified Congress of this decision and once that notice period has been concluded, Mr. Aamer will be returned to the UK," a spokesperson for the UK's Foreign Office said.

At least 114 detainees continue to be held at Guantanamo.

ls/msh (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)