LOC14:50
11:50 GMT
SANAA, Nov 24 (KUNA) -- Yemen is expected to receive within the coming days
Salem Hamdan, the driver of Al-Qaeda leader, Usama Bin laden, from US
authorities.
The official website of the Yemeni Army reported on Monday that the US
authorities would hand over Hamdan, after he was court martialled and
sentenced, last August, to five years and a half behind bars.
Hamdan was detained in November 2001 at a military checkpoint in
Afghanistan following the American military operation.
The report about the prospected release of Bin Laden's driver came after
Yemeni Justice Minister Dr. Shaef Al-Aghbari held a meeting with the American
ambassador in Sanaa, requesting the release of 100 Yemeni prisoners from
Guantanamo detention camp.
The diplomat hinted at Washington's tentative readiness to release the
Guantanamo prisoners after the US president elect Barack Obama declared his
intention to shut the detention camp. He also indicated that Washington was
encouraged with a declaration by the Yemeni Government to subject the inmates
to a just trial and rehabilitate them for re-integration into the society.
(end)
az.rk
KUNA 241450 Nov 08NNNN