The U.S. White House said on Thursday that it disagreed with the decision made by a federal court to release five Algerian detainees in the Guantanamo prison.
"We disagree with the court's decision that we did not carry our burden of proof with respect to the other detainees," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto, adding that the court decision was being reviewed by the Justice Department.
"This ruling does demonstrate the need for Congress to enact procedures that allow these petitions to be adjudicated in a way that is fair to the detainee but that allows the government to present its case without imperiling national security," he added.
He made the remarks after U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon ruled earlier the day that the five Algerians who have been held for nearly seven years at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba must be released, while affirming the sixth one as an enemy combatant.
The judge noted that the government's evidence was not credible enough to prove the links the five Algerians to al-Qaida since it came from a single and unidentified source.
"To allow enemy combatancy to rest on so thin a reed would be inconsistent with this court's obligation," he told the courtroom.
However, the sixth Algerian terrorist suspect, Belkacem Bensayah, was proved to have close contact with al-Qaida operatives and help others travel to Afghanistan to join the terrorist network, so he should be identified as an enemy combatant.
The first case of its kind attracted much more attention when the U.S. government is in the transition to President-elect Barack Obama who has promised to shut down the controversial Guantanamo prison.
Despite Leon's urgency not to appeal his decision, the Justice Department said as a response that it would review the ruling before deciding whether to appeal it.
"We are of course disappointed by, and disagree with, the court's decision that we did not carry our burden of proof with respect to the other detainees," said Justice spokesman Peter Carr.
However, the department is pleased Bensayah will remain at Guantanamo, he added.
Source:Xinhua
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