Ex-bin Laden driver is sent back to Yemen

SAN'A, Yemen - Osama bin Laden's former driver returned home to Yemen yesterday to serve out his remaining prison sentence after the United States released him from Guantanamo Bay, American and Yemeni officials said.

Salim Hamdan was transferred to Yemeni custody and taken to a state security prison after he arrived at a military base at San'a International Airport last night, a Yemeni security official said.

Hamdan was the first man to go before a U.S. war-crimes trial since the end of World War II. He was convicted Aug. 6 of providing material support to terrorism, and the military said it could keep him locked up indefinitely if it considered him to be a continued threat. Instead, he was sent to Yemen early.

Hamdan's U.S. military attorney said the 40-year-old father of two was incredulous when he learned Saturday he being sent home.

"The defense team spoke to him on the telephone on Sunday morning," Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Mizer said yesterday. "He was still in a state of disbelief. He thanked each of us for our work on the case."

Hamdan was sentenced to 51/2 years in prison. He was credited with five years and one month of time served, so his sentence ends Dec. 27, the Pentagon has said.

Guantanamo prosecutors sought a sentence of 30 years to life for Hamdan and argued that he should not receive credit for his time at Guantanamo. A military judge rejected that argument, calling Hamdan a "small player."

The jury of military officers convicted him of supporting terrorism but acquitted him of being part of al-Qaeda's conspiracy to attack the United States.