U.S. counterterrorism officials say a man released from the U.S.military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has resurfaced to become thedeputy leader of al-Qaida's Yemeni branch.
Officials on Fridayconfirmed an al-Qaida Internet statement which says the formerGuantanamo detainee now holds the terrorist group's number two positionin Yemen.
The man, identified as Said Ali al-Shihri, wasreleased from Guantanamo in late 2007 and went to Saudi Arabia beforegoing to Yemen.
Officials are investigating whether al-Shihriwas involved in car bombings last year outside the U.S. Embassy in theYemeni capital, Sanaa, that killed 16 people, including six attackers.
Lastweek, the U.S. Defense Department said 61 former Guantanamo prisonersare confirmed or suspected of having returned to terrorism. A Pentagonspokesman said that figure is up from the 37 ex-prisoners mentioned inthe Pentagon's previous estimate in March 2008.
On Thursday,U.S. President Barack Obama ordered the Guantanamo Bay detention centerto be closed within one year. He also set up a task force that willrecommend what is to be done with about 245 remaining prisoners oncethe controversial prison is closed.
The Guantanamo prison was opened under former U.S. President George Bush to house foreign terror suspects.