Some ex-Guantanamo inmates convicted on return home

Riyadh: Saudi authorities released 11 Saudis who were detained in their homeland for investigation after their release from the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay in mid-2006, the Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday.

The ministry also revealed for the first time that it had convicted some of the former Guantanamo detainees of violations of the law after their return from the US prison. Previously, officials had said they were investigating the returnees but had not announced any prosecutions.

Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Mansour Al Turki said 28 detainees who were released from Guantanamo in May and June confessed to "committing legal violations. They stood trial, and the court issued different sentences against them".

The 11 released on Tuesday completed their sentences and were released, he said. He did not specify how long the others would be held and did not say what violations they allegedly committed.

The former inmates are taken into custody upon their return home to investigate whether they have any link to militant groups.

On Monday, Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz warned that "we should not ignore the past of those people", according to remarks published in Saudi newspapers.