Guantanamo 'torture' prisoner returns to UK

GUANTANAMO Bay detainee Binyam Mohamed returned to Britain today after more than four years of detention by the US military.

Mr Mohamed, 30, arrived at RAF Northolt after his release from the base in Cuba and was due to be met by a doctor, lawyers, family and friends. His sister Zuhra said: "I am so glad and so happy. I am so thankful for everything that was done for Binyam to make this day come true."

Mr Mohamed, an Ethiopian citizen who lived in Britain before his detention in Pakistan, had been accused by the US of plotting to detonate a bomb in America. Charges were dropped this year.

He could face questioning by British police, but his lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith, said he expected ministers would approve his rapid release once he had cleared border checks. Mr Stafford Smith added: "He has suffered more than any human being should ever suffer. He just wants to go somewhere quiet and try to recover."

Mr Mohamed was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 soon after America launched its war on terror and claims he was secretly flown to Morocco and tortured before being moved to Afghanistan and then Cuba in 2004. He alleges he was tortured into falsely confessing to terrorist activities and claims MI5 officers were complicit in his abuse. The Attorney General is consulting the Director of Public Prosecutions over whether to order a criminal investigation into the claims.

Two High Court judges have complained they were blocked by Foreign Secretary David Miliband from releasing information relating to Mr Mohamed's case for national security reasons.

Mr Miliband said no decision had been taken over whether Mr Mohamed can stay in the UK adding that his immigration status would be reviewed "and the same security considerations will apply to him as would apply to any other foreign national".