U.S. Releases Juvenile Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay (13 to 15yo)

By Charles Aldinger

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Thursday it had released three juvenile "enemy combatants" held at the U.S. military prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and flown them to their home country.

The three, ranging from 13 to 15 years old, were the only juveniles among 660 suspected Taliban and al Qaeda guerrillas being held without charge at the U.S. naval base.

Detention of the prisoners, especially the youngsters, has drawn major criticism from human rights groups and governments who have urged the United States to file charges against the detainees or release them.

The Pentagon (news - web sites) did not say where the three juveniles were flown, but one U.S. official told Reuters the youngsters were returned to Afghanistan (news - web sites) -- where they were arrested more than a year ago -- to be set free.

"With the assistance of non-governmental organizations, the juveniles will be resettled in their home country. It is our goal to return them to an environment where they have an opportunity to re-integrate into civil society," the Defense Department said in a statement.

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printed from U.S. Releases Juvenile Prisoners from Guantanamo Bay (13 to 15yo) on 2004-06-20 16:26:50