Appeals court blocks detainees' release

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. appellate court in Washington Wednesday temporarily stopped the impending release of 17 Uighurs held at Guantanamo Bay for the past seven years.

A U.S. District Court judge Tuesday had ordered the detainees be freed into the United States by Friday. But U.S. prosecutors were successful in halting their release for at least eight days while pursuing a full appeal.

In granting the government's request for an emergency stay, the appellate panel said it's action "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion."

Justice Department spokesman Brian Roehrkasse had said earlier that the district court's order releasing the prisoners "presents serious national security and separation of powers concerns, and raises unprecedented legal issues."

The United States no longer considers the 17 Uighurs "enemy combatants," so they should be released because they haven't been charged, U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina said.

The men were to have been freed by Friday pending a hearing Oct. 16 to determine the conditions of their release. Roehrkasse said the government considered it inappropriate that they be released with "no supervision or oversight."