1ST LEAD - 2 FREE, 3 HERE, 4 TO COME

Five out of the Nine Britons held at Camp X-Ray are now back in Britain after being deemed a low security risk. An RAF C-17 aircraft landed at Northolt Airbase in Middlesex c1900 hrs Tuesday evening. The five were accompanied by uniformed officers from the Metropolitan Police, as well as a representative from the Muslim community.

Jamal-al-Harith (also known as Jamaaluddin) 37, from Manchester was the first to be released late Tuesday night. Freedom has also been attained for Terek Dergoul 26, of East London on Wednesday afternoon. This would leave the Tipton 3 namely Asif Iqbal 22, Ruhal Ahmed also 22 and Shafiq Rasul 26, all being currently detained at Paddington Green High Security Police Station.

Events over the past 2 days have culminated in the end of a 2 year agony experienced by the above 5 and their families. Charles Kennedy, Leader of the Liberal Democrats giving an interview to the Guardian says, "I welcome the fact that these men are no longer in legal limbo. 2 years without proper recourse to lawyers or access to their families was too long."

However, the agony continues for Moazzam Begg, Feroz Abbassi, Richard Belmar and Martin Mubanga, of which Begg and Abbassi were listed as some of the first detainees likely to face a military commission.

On touchdown at RAF Northolt, Police boarded the plane and arrested the remaining 4 under section 41 of the Terrorism Act of 2000, which refers to allegations of involvement in the commission or preparation of terrorism. Needless to say, the Police have been reluctant to discuss the matter in further detail with myself. Bear in mind that under the terrorism legislation, they can be held for 14 days without charge. Unconfirmed reports have indicated that they could be released by the end of the week. Scotland Yard has gone as far as to say that they would be given access to lawyers and would be treated strictly in line with the standards of British Law.

The release of the 5 has unsurprisingly created a media frenzy with both broadcast and print media vying to get 'a piece of the action'. The most interesting comment on this development has come from the renowned publicist Max Clifford who is representing Tarek Dergoul (and who has reportedly tried to secure publicity rights for all 5). He has suggested the men should give interviews to newspapers that have been consistently hostile to them in order to set the record straight.

On that basis, the Sun would be the prime contender with its "Tipton Taliban" and "Arrest these traitors the minute they set foot on British Soil" diatribe. Describing the British media as the most savage in the world, he explained that there was a decision to be made in terms of either ignoring the papers or explaining what the reality was.

Meanwhile, the first to be released, namely Jamaal Udeen is understood to 'have gone to ground' (staying quiet for a while) while his lawyer Robert Lizar puts the question to the US authorities to "answer for the injustice which he has suffered". Interestingly, the MP for the 3 Tipton detainees has urged them not to prolong the controversy by selling their story to the media.

Moving back across the Atlantic, the high profile visit of Terry Waite and Azmat Begg (Father of Muazzam) hasn't apparently changed the US stance on the remaining 4. Donald Rumsfeld, in his peculiar yet predictable style remained hawkish regarding their prospects while defending the decision to release the 5 saying, "We got what we needed out of this crowd of 5 people, lets move them along!"

In all this frenzy, one must not forget the remaining c.650 at camp X-ray who remain in 'Legal Limbo' . Most of them originate from countries that don’t have the diplomatic resources and close relationship that Britain enjoys with America. Taking into account that its taken more than 2 years to secure a partial release of British subjects, one can only imagine what the rest of that camp must be thinking.