Kuwait urges U.S. to free compatriot detainees in Guantanamo base

Kuwait on Saturday reiterated its call on the United States to free four Kuwaiti detainees currently held in a U.S. naval base in the Guantanamo Bay, the official KUNA news agency reported.

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah al-Salem al- Sabah made the call following a parliamentary committee meeting on Saturday while talking about his planned U.S. visit.

"Promises have been made by the U.S. administration over Kuwaiti detainees in Guantanamo and I will follow up on this issue during my visit to Washington," Sheikh Mohammad was quoted as saying.

While in Washington, Sheikh Mohammad is also to deliver a message from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to the U.S. President George W. Bush over the four Kuwaiti detainees, according to KUNA.

The foreign minister voiced his hope that the detainees would be released by the U.S. administration or handed over to the Kuwaiti authorities "as soon as possible to bring them to justice."

"We all seek this (justice), whether in Kuwait or the U.S.," he urged.

Eight Kuwaiti detainees at Guantanamo have already been freed in recent years, it was reported.

Source: Xinhua