Last UK Guantanamo Prisoner To Be Freed

Shaker Aamer, the last British resident held in Guantanamo Bay jail, is to be released to the UK.

Mr Aamer, who was born in Saudi Arabia but has British residency and whose wife and four children live in London, has been held in the prison for 13 years without trial.

His case was debated in the House of Commons in March and MPs, including new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, lobbied Washington to speed up the transfer which was cleared in 2007.

Pink Floyd star Roger Waters also campaigned for Mr Aamer's release.

The US government has now notified the UK authorities that it now intends to return Mr Aamer to Britain.

"The Government has regularly raised Mr Aamer's case with the US authorities and we support President (Barack) Obama's commitment to closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay," a British Government spokesman said.

"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.

"As the US has said, we have one of the most robust and effective systems in the world to deal with suspected terrorists and those suspected of engaging in terrorist related activity and we will continue to do all we can to protect people in Britain and around the world from the threat of terrorism."

Mr Aamer was originally detained in Afghanistan in 2001 and accused of having links to al Qaeda.

The 46-year-old was subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay where he has been held without charge.

His release is expected to take place once the 30-day notice period set by the US authorities has expired.

Mr Aamer's daughter Johina, said on Twitter: "Thank you everyone for all the support. The news hasn't hit yet. We can't believe we might finally see our Dad after 14 years."

In February, his son Michael, 15, told Sky News that a part of his heart is missing since his father's arrest.

He said: "We thought there might be a chance for him to come home, but it just kept getting delayed.

"We just felt more sad because nothing happened. We've seen other people with their parents... seen how they enjoy themselves, how they're so close to them.

"It's like there is a part of our heart that is missing because we've been yearning for him to come home for many years and nothing's happened yet."

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said the news of Mr Aamer's return was a "huge relief".

"In the past Mr Aamer has reportedly been at death's door during a hunger strike and his return to his family in Britain won't come a moment too soon," she said.

"The immediate focus should now be on providing medical and other support for Mr Aamer on his return to the UK, but let's not forget that his 13-year ordeal at Guantanamo has been an absolute travesty of justice."