Sixteen Saudis returned home after the United States released
them from a prison camp at Guantanamo Bay where foreign terrorism
suspects are held.
The Saudi state news agency SPA said Interior Minister Prince Nayef
bin Abdul-Aziz "expressed his relief and appreciation for the
cooperation shown by the authorities in the United States, hoping
this leads to the return of the remaining Saudis."
Saudi public anger over the treatment of Saudi detainees in
Guantanamo Bay has been high in the Muslim kingdom, a key US
ally.
Two Saudis were among three prisoners who hanged themselves at
the naval base in June.
Washington is reducing the numbers of people detained at Guantanamo
Bay to move towards closing the camp, but SPA did not say how many
Saudis remain there.
Many of the men held at Guantanamo were captured in Afghanistan in
the US-led war to oust the Taliban after the September 11
attacks.
Many have been held for years, most of them without
charge.
Most of the 19 suicide hijackers who carried out the attacks on New
York and Washington were Saudis.
Washington has designated Guantanamo prisoners "enemy combatants",
denying them the prisoner of war status that would guarantee them
certain rights under international law.
