Ex-Guantanamo prisoners stroll streets of Uruguay

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-Guantanamo prisoners stroll streets of Uruguay

| December 12, 2014 | Updated: December 12, 2014 5:43pm



MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Four of the men released this week after years of captivity at Guantanamo Bay have finally had their first long walk in freedom, stopping to buy a bit of cheese and bread on a stroll through Uruguay's capital.

The men — four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian — are staying at a house in a middle class neighborhood as guests of a major labor union, which has been asked to help by President Jose Mujica.

The union's executive secretary, Gabriel Melgareo, said Friday that four of them managed to elude journalists and went on a 6-mile (10-kilometer) walk along the banks of the Rio de la Plata on Thursday.

"They were enchanted by the blue sky of Montevideo, the tranquility of the city, the ability to walk through the streets in absolute calm," Melgareo told The Associated Press.

Bakery worker Laura Larrobla said two of the men stopped by to purchase cheese, yoghurt and bread.

"They looked good, although they only talked through an interpreter," she said.

More:
http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Ex-Guantanamo-prisoners-stroll-streets-of-Uruguay-5953318.php

[Judi Lynn]

1. The 4 most interesting things about the freed Guantanamo prisoners in Uruguay

The 4 most interesting things about the freed Guantanamo prisoners in Uruguay
By Will Carless, GlobalPost
Posted: 12/16/14, 4:57 PM PST

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — It’s been a week since six former detainees of the Guantanamo Bay military prison arrived in Uruguay, and we’ve started to learn a few things about their past, present and future.

In interviews with attorneys for three of the freed prisoners, GlobalPost has gleaned some interesting nuggets about the four Syrians, one Tunisian and one Palestinian who were held for more than a decade in Guantanamo without ever facing charges and are now starting a new life in this small South American country.

Here are four of the most interesting things we’ve learned:

1. The detainees are planning to stay in Uruguay — at least for now

Ali Hussein al Shaaban, a 32-year-old Syrian who had been imprisoned at Guantanamo since 2002, is delighted to be in Uruguay, his lawyer Michael Mone, Jr., told GlobalPost last week.

“He’s so grateful to the people of Uruguay and President (Jose) Mujica for giving him refuge,” Mone said.

More:
http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20141216/the-4-most-interesting-things-about-the-freed-guantanamo-prisoners-in-uruguay