US lawyers urge re-trial of al-Shaiba

SANA'A, Aug 31 (Saba) - A US lawyers team for Yemeni Guantanamo detainees has urged to retry Ramzi al-Shaiba, one of the Yemeni detainees at the Guantanamo Bay, who was sentenced to death, the state-run 26sep.net has said.

The team doubted Ramzi's mental capabilities as he asked the authorities to use
the death penalty against him.

Yemen is making heavy efforts to persuade the US authorities to release its
Guantanamo detainees.

Many countries including Yemen have signed agreements with the US to release their
Guantanamo detainees, but Yemen refused its agreement text saying its terms
derogate Yemen's sovereignty.

Informed sources said the Yemen refusal of the agreement text delayed the release of
13 Yemeni prisoners at Guantanamo scheduled for the last month.

A key al-Qaeda suspect Ramzi bin al-Shaiba who was held responsible for
coordinating the financing of the 11 Sept. attacks was captured in June 2002 after
a gun battle in Karachi.

A U.S. delegation visited the capital city of San'a in July to discuss the possible
transfer of a few detainees to Yemen.

Yemeni officials hoped to negotiate the release of all but the most dangerous
prisoners.About 100 of the approximately 270 prisoners remaining at Guantanamo Bay
are Yemeni nationals.