Britain asks U.S. to release 5 prisoners from Guantanamo

Britain has asked the United States to release five British residents from the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Foreign Office said Tuesday.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has written to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking that the men be freed.

The men — Shaker Aamer, Jamil al-Banna, Omar Deghayes, Binyam Mohamed and Abdennour Sameur— are not British nationals, but had been granted refugee status, indefinite leave or exceptional leave to remain in Britain before they were detained, the statement said.

"Discussions with the U.S. government about the release and return of these five men may take some time," it said.

There may be security considerations when the men are returned, and the British government will "take all necessary measures to maintain national security," the Foreign Office said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hardened Britain's position over Guantanamo Bay, after ex-leader Tony Blair refused to press the United States to release the men. In March, foreign office minister Kim Howells insisted Blair's government could not intervene in the cases of the former residents.