Probe continues into two US soldiers at Guantanamo Bay

The US Defense Department is continuing its investigations into two servicemen associated with the confinement facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Both cases involve personnel assigned to Camp Delta on US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, where the US is detaining suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban members.

A spokesman for US Southern Command, said the military has "no information" at this time that the two cases are connected.

The probe follows on from charges which were brought against an Air Force translator who is accused of espionage and an Army chaplain who is being held pending charges.

Senior Airman Ahmad al Halabi is being held in pre-trial confinement at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, following a preliminary hearing last week.

Mr al Halabi was detained at Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Florida, on July 23. He faces three charges of aiding the enemy, four charges of espionage, and nine charges of making false statements. Four other charges allege violations of the US Code relating to espionage and to executing a fraudulent credit scheme.

The six-page charge sheet against Mr al Halabi accuses him of activities at Jacksonville Naval Air Station on the day of his arrest conducted "with intent or reason to believe it would be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of Syria".

Meanwhile, a military magistrate has ruled that the military has "sufficient reason" to hold Army Captain Yousef Yee while it continues its investigations.

Captain Yee was arrested at Jacksonville Naval Air Station on September 10, however, no formal charges have been filed.

Mr Yee spent 10 months with at Guantanamo Bay as a Muslim chaplain.

(gmcg)