Louh: “Eight Algerians are still detained in US Guantanamo Prison”

Eight Algerians are still being held in the US prison of Guantanamo, said on Monday in Algiers the Minister of Justice Tayeb Louh.

“Algeria is pursuing its efforts with the United States and court proceedings are underway for the transfer of these eight Algerian prisoners”, explained Mr. Tayeb Louh during a joint press conference with his French counterpart, Mrs Christiane Taubira, at the end of the latter’s official visit to Algeria.

Mr Louh said that “Algeria sent a few years ago a delegation from the Ministerial Department of Justice as part of the processing of the file of those prisoners held without trial in Guantanamo prison, and whose number then amounted to 26, adding that they were arrested in Afghanistan mostly for links with terrorist groups there.”

“The steady negotiations with the US side had then allowed for the transfer of 18 Algerian detainees, they were all brought before the Algerian Justice which acquitted some of them and condemned others,” concluded Mr. Louh.