The Biden administration on Monday released a Moroccan man who had been held without charge almost since the US built the Guantanamo Bay facility 19 years ago into the custody of his native nation.

The first prisoner freed by the Biden administration Abdul Latif Nasir had feared he wouldn't make it out alive. He was never charged with a crime.&nbsp;

In a statement released by the Department of Defence (DoD) said: "In 2016, the Periodic Review Board (PRB) process determined that law of war detention of Abdul Latif Nasir no longer remained necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the national security of the US."

The man's transfer, Abdul Latif Nasser, 56, was the first sign of President Biden's renewed endeavour to whittle down the jail population by sending them to countries that vow to keep the guys under security measures.&nbsp;

Nasser's release from Guantanamo Bay was first approved more than five years ago.

He had been held there for 19 years after being apprehended in Afghanistan, where the US authorities said he was an active Taliban member who later trained with al-Qaeda.&nbsp;

Nasser, who is in his mid-50s, had been recommended for repatriation by a review board in July 2016, but he stayed at Guantánamo under President Donald Trump, who opposes the facility's closure.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The Biden administration on Monday released a Moroccan man who had been held without charge almost since the US built the Guantanamo Bay facility 19 years ago into the custody of his native nation.

The Biden administration on Monday released a Moroccan man who had been held without charge almost since the US built the Guantanamo Bay facility 19 years ago into the custody of his native nation. The first prisoner freed by the Biden administration Abdul Latif Nasir had feared he wouldn't make it out alive. He was never charged with a crime. In a statement released by the Department of Defence (DoD) said: "In 2016, the Periodic Review Board (PRB) process determined that law of war detention of Abdul Latif Nasir no longer remained necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the national security of the US." The man's transfer, Abdul Latif Nasser, 56, was the first sign of President Biden's renewed endeavour to whittle down the jail population by sending them to countries that vow to keep the guys under security measures. Nasser's release from Guantanamo Bay was first approved more than five years ago. He had been held there for 19 years after being apprehended in Afghanistan, where the US authorities said he was an active Taliban member who later trained with al-Qaeda. Nasser, who is in his mid-50s, had been recommended for repatriation by a review board in July 2016, but he stayed at Guantánamo under President Donald Trump, who opposes the facility's closure. (With inputs from agencies)

'19 years in jail without charges': US transfers the first detainee out of Guantanamo

Canada's top diplomat on Saturday called on allies for support in securing the release of Canadians detained in China, noting that the arrests are a "worrying precedent" for the entire international community.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that China's detention of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor is "not only a Canadian issue.

"It is an issue which concerns our allies and we've been discussing it very actively with our allies and partners around the world," she said in a phone conference with reporters.

Freeland repeated a call for the "immediate" release of the two men who had been "detained arbitrarily."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was making a surprise visit to Canadian troops deployed in Mali, also weighed in, saying that: "We are impressing upon the Chinese how it is important that they release the detainees."

"We feel that respecting the rule of law, respecting the rights of citizens, of prisoners is extremely important," the premier said in televised remarks.

Kovrig and Spavor were detained on December 10 and accused of engaging in activities that "endanger China's national security."

Though no link has officially been made, the arrests seem to be in retaliation of Canada's December 10 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Chinese telecom giant Huawei.

Ottawa has repeatedly said Meng's arrest was not political, but rather part of a judicial process in keeping with an extradition treaty with Washington.

"In my conversations with the Chinese ambassador and in our conversation with Chinese officials, the Chinese officials have not directly made that connection" between Meng's detention and the arrest of the Canadians, Freeland said.

"It would, of course, be highly inappropriate for there to be any connection."

Meng was released on bail last week in Vancouver pending her US extradition hearing on fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran.

Freeland said that Meng "has been treated with respect ... and has been given full access to due process as anyone detained in Canada is given."

She added: "This is clearly a difficult moment in our relationship with China."

A third Canadian was arrested in China for "working illegally," but Canadian authorities have said that appears to be a routine visa case.

Freeland thanked the United States, Britain and the European Union for their support, saying that Canada will continue to work with its allies to get the Canadians released.

Canada's top diplomat on Saturday called on allies for support in securing the release of Canadians detained in China, noting that the arrests are a "worrying precedent" for the entire international community.

Canada's top diplomat on Saturday called on allies for support in securing the release of Canadians detained in China, noting that the arrests are a "worrying precedent" for the entire international community. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said that China's detention of former diplomat Michael Kovrig and consultant Michael Spavor is "not only a Canadian issue. "It is an issue which concerns our allies and we've been discussing it very actively with our allies and partners around the world," she said in a phone conference with reporters. Freeland repeated a call for the "immediate" release of the two men who had been "detained arbitrarily." Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was making a surprise visit to Canadian troops deployed in Mali, also weighed in, saying that: "We are impressing upon the Chinese how it is important that they release the detainees." "We feel that respecting the rule of law, respecting the rights of citizens, of prisoners is extremely important," the premier said in televised remarks. Kovrig and Spavor were detained on December 10 and accused of engaging in activities that "endanger China's national security." Though no link has officially been made, the arrests seem to be in retaliation of Canada's December 10 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive at Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Ottawa has repeatedly said Meng's arrest was not political, but rather part of a judicial process in keeping with an extradition treaty with Washington. "In my conversations with the Chinese ambassador and in our conversation with Chinese officials, the Chinese officials have not directly made that connection" between Meng's detention and the arrest of the Canadians, Freeland said. "It would, of course, be highly inappropriate for there to be any connection." Meng was released on bail last week in Vancouver pending her US extradition hearing on fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking business dealings with Iran. Freeland said that Meng "has been treated with respect ... and has been given full access to due process as anyone detained in Canada is given." She added: "This is clearly a difficult moment in our relationship with China." A third Canadian was arrested in China for "working illegally," but Canadian authorities have said that appears to be a routine visa case. Freeland thanked the United States, Britain and the European Union for their support, saying that Canada will continue to work with its allies to get the Canadians released.

Canada calls on allies to help secure release of citizens held in China

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