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U.S. to release 16 Saudis from Gitmo

WASHINGTON, May 17 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told reporters in Washington Wednesday the United States was releasing 16 Saudi nationals from Guantanamo.

The prince said they would be flown to Saudi, Thursday or Friday, where they will be incarcerated and checked. "Those who are guilty will be punished, and those who are innocent will be let go," he said.

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Detainees are set to stand trial and if found guilty they will be sentenced accordingly. Saudi Arabia maintains the death sentence.

The Saudi foreign minister tried to evade the question, but if any of the 16 prisoners are to be found guilty of murder, they could be sentenced to death.

The Saudi minister said it took several years to convince the United States to hand over the 16 detainees to Saudi authorities.

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