British resident released from Guantanamo

Shaker Aamer, a British resident held at Guantanamo Bay for 13 years who became a cause célèbre for human rights activists, has been released to the United Kingdom, officials announced Friday.

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond broke the news that Aamer left Guantanamo overnight, which the Pentagon confirmed Friday.

{mosads}”The United States is grateful to the government of the United Kingdom for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility,” the Pentagon said in a written statement. “The United States coordinated with the government of the United Kingdom to ensure this transfer took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures.”

Aamer’s lawyers welcomed the news.

“We are, of course, delighted that Shaker is on his way back to his home and his family here in the UK,” Cori Crider, one of his lawyers, said in a written statement. “It is long, long past time. Shaker now needs to see a doctor and then get to spend time alone with his family as soon as possible.”

Shaker was the last detainee at Guantanamo with major ties to Britain. He is a citizen of Saudi Arabia, but has a British wife and four children.

Aamer, 48, is alleged to have been a close associate of Osama bin Laden’s and a “recruiter, financier and facilitator with a history of participating in jihadist combat,” according to military files published by The New York Times.

But he was never charged with a crime, and he has denied all allegations. Aamer had been cleared for release since 2007.

Activists urged the United States to allow him to be reunited with his family. British Prime Minister David Cameron also raised the issue with President Obama during a visit to the White House in January.

Aamer’s release brings the number of detainees at Guantanamo to 112.

Obama has been working to close the facility to keep his 2008 campaign promise.