Former Guantanamo Bay detainee drops torture case against Australian gov't

Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mamdouh Habib has agreed to drop his lawsuit against Australian Federal government for being complicit in his torture while he was detained, Australia's media reported on Saturday.

Australia Associated Press reported that the Federal government has paid an undisclosed amount to Habib to absolve it of legal liability in the case.

Habib was detained by the United States in Guantnamo Bay detainment facility located in Cuba as a suspected terrorist for three-and-a-half years, in the fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

He said he was drugged, sexually assaulted and beaten at Guantanamo. He alleged the Australian government was aware of his harsh treatment and therefore was indirectly responsible.

According to a spokesman for Attorney-General Robert McClelland, Habib reached a negotiation settlement with the government last month.

The settlement brings an end to a six-year-long compensation case.

The settlement came after Habib was cleared by the Federal Court to sue the government for aiding and abetting his torture by agents in Pakistan, Egypt, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.

Source: Xinhua