'Eight more' Guantanamo releases

The men are due to be released 'imminently'

The Pakistani Interior Minister, Aftab Khan Sherpao, has said that the US has agreed to release eight more Pakistani nationals detained at Guantanamo Bay.

He told state television that a total of 29 Pakistanis were being held in the Cuban detention centre.

He said that efforts were underway to secure the release of the rest.

Mr Sherpao added that in the next few days interior ministry officials would travel to Guantanamo Bay to ascertain the condition of the detainees.

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US officials at Guantanamo Bay have not confirmed the releases.

Correspondents say the majority of the Pakistani prisoners were captured in Afghanistan a few years ago.

'Mistreated'

Mr Sherpao said that a team led by the by Director-General of the National Crisis Management Cell would leave for Guantanamo within the next few days.

Pakistan says it has a total of 29 nationals in Guantanamo

He said that efforts were also underway to secure the release of various Pakistanis imprisoned in different jails across Afghanistan.

In June last year the Pakistani authorities released 17 former Guantanamo Bay inmates, after holding them for about nine months following their return to the country.

They were detained for further investigation after their release from US captivity.

Many said on their release that they had been mistreated or tortured at Guantanamo, accusations which the US denies.

However, a number of prominent US figures have criticised Guantanamo Bay, following a stream of reports of abuse at the prison.

Many of the men held at the US camp have been there for several years without trial.