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UK to compensate Guantanamo ex-detainees: report



Demonstrators dressed as prisoners, protest against the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, outside the Ministry of Defence in London, February 6, 2010. Credit: Reuters/Luke Macgregor

LONDON | Mon Nov 15, 2010 9:31pm EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is set to pay out millions of pounds in compensation to former detainees held in the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, British media said Tuesday. The detainees were among about a dozen former prisoners who would be granted an out-of-court settlement, according to the BBC.

"At least six of them alleged British security forces were complicit in their torture before they arrived at Guantanamo," the BBC said on its website. The office of Prime Minister David Cameron said a written statement would be made to parliament later Tuesday. Several Britons of Pakistani descent have said they were abused in custody in Pakistan with British complicity.

There have been complaints of mistreatment from those held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and detainees have brought two criminal cases and 12 civil cases against the government before British courts. In July, Cameron said the government would mediate with, and possibly compensate, those who had made claims about their detention at Guantanamo Bay.

The Independent newspaper said the exact details of how much the men would receive were unlikely to be disclosed. Government officials were not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Karolina Tagaris; editing by Andrew Dobbie)