Charges withdrawn in 5 Guantanamo cases

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. government Tuesday dropped charges against five Guantanamo detainees without prejudice, meaning they could be reinstated.

Chief military prosecutor Col. Lawrence J. Morris said supervising lawyers had asked the Pentagon to withdraw the charges, The New York Times reported. The cases had been handled by Lt. Col. Darrel Vandeveld, who resigned saying he didn't think he military tribunal system was fair. Morris said Vandeveld's departure played no role in the decision.

No specific reasons for the withdrawals were cited but Morris said all five cases would be reviewed.

Among the detainees involved is Binyam Mohammed, who said he was tortured. The government claimed he took part in a plan to attack the United States with a dirty bomb. The others are identified as Noor Uthman Muhammed, Sufyiam Barhoumi, Ghassan Abdullah al Sharbi and Jabran Said Bin al Qahtani.

The government is still holding 255 prisoners at the prison camp on Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.