How dangerous are 'Guantanamo Five'?

Last Modified: 12 Aug 2007
By: Keme Nzerem

Dangerous Jihadis, or victims of a Pentagon smear campaign? New claims about five British residents still held in Guantanamo bay.

Earlier this week Jamil al-Banna's family were told the UK now backs their calls to bring him home. Cleared for release by the Pentagon - it is just a matter of time.

But now they discover - according to the Americans at least - he's an old friend of former al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi. C4 news has been told they were friends while young men in Jordan - but hadn't had contact for years.

The Pentagon claims four other British residents the Foreign Secretary wants released have links with al-Qaida - the only one of the group to have ever been charged - Binyam Mohamed - Shaker Aamer, allegedly bin Laden's interpreter; Omar Deghayes - who's alleged to have links with the 2003 Casablanca bombers; and Abdulnour Sameur - who apparently trained for jihad in Afghanistan.

There have been 420 detainees released since 2002. There are now 360 left, 80 have been cleared to go with 70 more likely. The US wants to put 80 on trial, leaving 130 who it claims are too dangerous for release.

None of the former British detainees have been charged with any crime - but the pentagon wants travel bans placed on al-Banna and the others - when they are released. Neither the home or foreign office will comment.

The Tories this afternoon demanding the Home Secretary explain precisely how she plans to protect the security of British citizens - but the Home office telling Channel 4 News they don't believe this will turn into a `political' issue.