U.S. hands over 29 detainees to Pakistan
Six others in Guantanamo to be set free
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Pakistan has taken custody of 29 detainees transferred from the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said Saturday.
Six other detainees will be released in Pakistan.
"We don't confirm the names or identities of those released," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Joe Richard said. "I can only confirm that there has been a transfer made."
One of the detainees approved for release was also found not to be an "enemy combatant" by a tribunal set up to review the status of detainees in the war on terror, a Department of Defense news release said.
An "enemy combatant" can be detained indefinitely without charges or legal representation.
After Saturday's release, about 550 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.
Previously, 129 detainees were transferred for release and 27 others were transferred to the control of other governments, including France, Great Britain, Morocco, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Sweden.
The decision to transfer or release a detainee is based on many factors, including whether the detainee is of further intelligence value to the United States and whether the person is believed to pose a threat to the United States, if released, the DOD said.
Another high-profile government detainee is expected to be released soon. Yaser Esam Hamdi, a government-declared "enemy combatant" being held in a South Carolina military brig, is expected to be released to Saudi Arabia, Bush administration officials said Wednesday.
The deal would allow Hamdi to fly home to Saudi Arabia as a free man, sources said.
The 24-year-old Hamdi was originally held in Guantanamo Bay. When it was discovered he was born in Louisiana, he was transferred to the United States.
Hamdi has been in U.S. military custody since his arrest on the battlefield in Afghanistan in November 2001 and has been held in solitary confinement since coming to the United States.
Hamdi earlier challenged the Bush administration for confining him, a U.S. citizen, as an enemy combatant. In a July 28 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court concluded that U.S. citizens designated by the president as enemy combatants and held under U.S. military custody can appeal their detention and defend themselves in court.
The ruling dampened the Bush administration's aggressive antiterror policies with a measure of constitutional protections for certain terror suspects.
Although the terms of Hamdi's release are still sealed, sources close to the case said Hamdi would fly to Saudi Arabia on a military jet.
Officials said he is expected to relinquish his U.S. citizenship and will not be allowed to return to the United States.
He also will be restricted from traveling to Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza, and he will be required to tell Saudi officials if he plans to leave that country.
