Tortured Guantánamo prisoner accused of September 11 links should be released – US panel

Government board says Mohammed al-Qahtani, who now has significant mental health issues, should be repatriated to Saudi Arabia

US authorities have recommended releasing an inmate with significant mental health issues from Guantanamo Bay and repatriating him to Saudi Arabia, according to a government document published Friday.

Suspected of being al-Qaida's intended 20th hijacker for the September 11, 2001 attacks, Mohammed al-Qahtani was tortured by interrogators at the US military base in Cuba where he has been detained for nearly two decades.