SANA'A, Aug 30 (Saba) – A US lawyers team for Yemeni Guantanamo detainees has urged to retry Ramzi al-Shaiba, one of 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.
FR