US military prosecutors are putting the finishing touches to the first major case against Guantanamo Bay inmates suspected to have helped plot the September 11 attacks.
Amongst those expected to be charged is Mohammed al-Qahtani, who has been held at Guantanamo since 2002, said to have been the so-called "20th hijacker", whose plans were thwarted when he was denied entry into the United States by an immigration official.
A lawyer acting for Mr. al-Qahtani, said at a press briefing that she had no information about whether he would be charged. "But if he is" she added, "I can assure you that his well-documented torture and the controversy over his being walked around Guantanamo Bay on a dog-leash
will be the focus."
The CIA have confirmed that Mr. al-Qahtani was indeed walked regularly on a dog leash as part of his house training regime. The leash was necessary as he had a tendency to chase cats. Some success had been achieved with him and he had begun to fetch the Base Commander's slippers when the Commander entered the camp.
However, there is now a new problem. A guard left open the door to Mr. al-Qahtani's cage and he escaped and bit the postman. The Senior Vetenarian at Guantanamo has recommended that he be destroyed.
Mr. al-Qahtani's legal team are expected to appeal the Vet's decision.
