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Guantanamo Bay: Bisher Al-Rawi

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mrs Margaret Beckett) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. The House will be aware that in March 2006 my right honourable friend the then Foreign Secretary (Mr Jack Straw) agreed to make representations to seek the return from Guantanamo Bay of an Iraqi national formerly resident in the UK, Mr Bisher Al-Rawi, based on the particular circumstances in his case. Detailed discussions between the UK and US Governments have been continuing since then. I would like to inform the House that we have now agreed with the US authorities that Mr Al-Rawi will be returned to the UK shortly, as soon as the practical arrangements have been made. His family and legal representatives have been informed of the decision, as has his family’s constituency MP. This decision follows extensive discussions to address the security implications of Mr Al-Rawi’s return. The UK will continue to take the necessary measures to maintain national and international security.