A federal judge ordered on Monday that a man accused of having ties to some of the hijackers in the September 11, 2001, attacks, be released from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Mohamedou Ould Slahi of Mauritania was described in the report of the 9/11 Commission that investigated the hijacked plane attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon as "a significant al Qaeda operative" who helped arrange for the Hamburg cell members to travel to Afghanistan for training.
The ruling by Judge James Robertson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordering Slahi's release from the controversial prison for foreign terrorism suspects, was classified.
A declassified version, with details of the judge's decision, is expected to be released later. Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd said the agency "was reviewing the decision."
The ruling came as President Barack Obama's administration has been struggling to close the Guantanamo prison. Obama has argued that anti-American militants have used it as a recruiting tool for their causes.
Some detainees are expected to be prosecuted, while others have been cleared for release, although the administration has had some trouble finding places to send them.
By: Brant
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