us refuses to let habib cross airspace

US refuses to let Guantanamo man cross airspace
10:22, Friday, 21 January 2005

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Washington has refused to
allow an Australian terrorism suspect due to be freed from the
Guantanamo prison in Cuba to be flown across the United States
because Canberra will not shackle him, an Australian official
said on Thursday.

The United States has agreed under pressure from its ally
to free Mamdouh Habib, who has been held at the U.S. naval base
for almost three years as an "enemy combatant" on suspicion he
helped al Qaeda. Washington has brought no charges against the
Australian but says it still regards him as a "threat."

"The United States has a requirement that he does not
return home via the United States," Matt Francis, a spokesman
at the Australian Embassy in Washington, said.

The United States sparked criticism around the world,
including from major allied governments, by shackling and
blindfolding detainees it transported to Guantanamo when it
started the prison for terrorism suspects in 2002.

Habib was arrested while crossing from Pakistan into
Afghanistan three weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Human rights groups have urged Australia to investigate claims
he was tortured while in U.S. custody.

Australia's Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has said Habib
remains a "security interest" but will not be shackled as the
government transports him half way around the world because he
will not be charged with anything on his return.

That decision has raised concerns Habib could conceivably
demand to be let off the aircraft at refueling stops and
Australian officials might be powerless to stop him, according
to Ruddock.

"The timing of the detainee's return to Australia remains
under discussion between our two governments," a U.S. State
Department spokeswoman Darla Jordan said, without giving
details.

Francis said the refusal to allow Habib to pass through
U.S. airspace would not delay his repatriation
"unnecessarily."

In working out an alternative route, Australia will have to
negotiate with other governments about Habib's conditions
during refueling stops, he said.

The United States is holding more than 500 foreigners at
the Guantanamo Bay facility after releasing about 200 prisoners
to date.
((Reporting by Saul Hudson; editing by Jackie Frank; Reuters
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