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MIAMI - A Saudi Arabian prisoner died of an apparent suicide at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base yesterday, the United States military said.
"The detainee was found unresponsive and not breathing in his cell by guards. The detainee was pronounced dead by a physician after all lifesaving measures had been exhausted," the US Southern Command in Miami said.
The military did not indicate how the prisoner died nor release his name.
He is the fourth detainee to die of apparent suicide at the detention camp, which opened in January 2002 and holds about 380 foreign terrorist suspects on the US naval base in southeastern Cuba.
Three other prisoners - two Saudis and a Yemeni - hanged themselves with clothing and bedding in their cells last June and their deaths are still under investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
"The remains of the deceased detainee are being treated with the utmost respect. A cultural adviser is assisting the Joint Task Force to ensure that the remains are handled in a culturally sensitive and religiously appropriate manner," the Southern Command said.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service had begun an investigation.
The latest death comes eight days after a new commander took over the military task force that runs the controversial detention centre. Rear Admiral Mark Buzby took command of the prison camp last week, replacing Rear Admiral Harry Harris, who was new to the job when the previous suicides took place.
- REUTERS
