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Sami al-Hajj had been in US custody for more than six years. He was detained in Afghanistan in 2001. He arrived in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on a US military plane in the early hours of Friday morning. After a 16-month hunger strike, Mr Hajj grimaced as he was carried off the plane by US military personnel. "I have been so overwhelmed with happiness that I've been in tears," he said shortly after his arrival. There was no immediate US comment.

Human rights groups condemned Mr Hajj's imprisonment.

"His detention for six years, without the most basic due process, is a grave injustice and represents a threat to all journalists working in conflict areas," said Joel Simon, executive director of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

Mr Hajj was working as a cameraman for al-Jazeera when he was arrested by Pakistani troops near the Afghan border in December 2001 and later handed over to the US military.


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