Saudi Arabia receives 16 Guantanamo detainees

RIYADH, July 16 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia said today 16 Saudis were handed over after the United States had freed them from its naval base at Guantanamo Bay.

Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz said King Abdullah is keen to free all detainees held at the controversial detention camp, the official news agency SPA quoted him as saying.

"Prince Nayef expressed his satisfaction with the level of cooperation that the US authorities are showing," said SPA.

Citing Saudi officials, Al-Arabiya television said there were 53 Saudis remaining at the prison.

Saudi public anger over the treatment of Saudi detainees in Guantanamo has been high in the Gulf Arab state, a key US ally.

Two Saudis were among three prisoners who hanged themselves in June at the prison.

Saudi Arabia has freed many of the 45 prisoners who were repatriated last year after they ended their terms in Saudi jails under a deal with Washington.

Many of the men held at Guantanamo were captured in Afghanistan in the US-led war to oust the Taliban after the September 11 attacks.

Many have been held for years and nearly all are being held without charge.

Most of the 19 suicide hijackers who carried out the attacks on US cities in 2001 were Saudis.

Washington has designated Guantanamo prisoners "enemy combatants", denying them the prisoner of war status that would guarantee them certain rights under international law.

Reuters SW SSC1359