Libya frees 37 Islamist prisoners
16:57, September 01, 2010 
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A released prisoner reunites with his family member in Tripoli, Libya, Aug. 31 , 2010. Libya released 37 prisoners belonging to jihad and other organizations Aug. 31.(Xinhua/Hamza Turkia)
Libya released 37 Islamist prisoners close to Al-Qaida, including one former detainee at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Al Jazeera television reported Tuesday night.
According to Al Jazeera, Libya has released Abou Sofian Ben Guemou, a previous driver for Osama bin Laden and all members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG) who were held in the Abu Salim prison near Tripoli.
Previously, Youssef Sawan, executive director of the Gaddafi Foundation who has been working on an agreement between the Islamists and the Libyan authorities, had announced that 37 prisoners would be released on Tuesday evening.
Abou Sofian Ben Guemou, one of Ben Laden's drivers who was handed over to the Libyan authorities by the United States in 2007 after having been detained for several years at Guantanamo Bay has been released, Youssef Sawan said in a statement to the Qatari television channel.
In March, Libya released 214 Islamists from various Islamic groups, including 34 from the LIFG; among them were three group leaders, Abdelhakim Belhadj, the group's Emir, Khaled Cherif, a military commander and Sami Saadi, the group's chief ideologist.
In 2007, the LIFG reaffirmed its determination to fight the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, voicing its allegiance to Al-Qaida. Recently however, the group's leadership released a book considered as a promotion of moderate Islam.
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（Editor：张茜）
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http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91321/7125498.pdf