Three boys held at Guantanamo Bay expected to be released soon

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Three children whose detention at the Guantanamo Bay military prison had outraged international human rights groups are likely to be freed soon, military officials indicated Friday.

The boys, believed to be Afghan and between the ages 13 and 15, were among hundreds of men captured in the aftermath of the war in Afghanistan. Their presence at the U.S. Navy prison in Cuba was revealed in April, but they may have been in military custody before that, according to human rights activists and military officials.

"We would obviously have preferred that a determination was made earlier, but I'm pleased by the news that they will finally be released," said Olara Otunnu, the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. He had urged the U.S. to free the juveniles as soon as possible.

Lieutenant Colonel Pamela Hart, spokeswoman for the joint military task force that runs the prison, said that officials there would recommend the release of the three boys, but could not say when they would actually be freed. The final decision on whether to release, charge, or continue to hold detainees is made by the Pentagon.

<http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/nation_world_news/article/0,1713,BDC_2420_2203838,00.html>