6:18am UK, Friday May 02, 2008

An Al Jazeera cameraman held at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay for six years without charge has been released.

Sami al-Haj was held for six years

Sudanese-born Sami al-Haj arrived in the capital Khartoum aboard a US military plane, the Qatar-based broadcaster said.

He had suffered health problems after being on hunger strike since January 2007.

A Pentagon spokesman said Haj was being transferred to the Sudanese government.

Al Jazeera said Haj was seized by Pakistani intelligence officers while travelling near the Afghan border in December 2001.

He was holding a legitimate visa to work for Al Jazeera's Arabic channel in Afghanistan.

Haj, who had been accused of making videos of Osama bin Laden, was handed to the US military in January 2002 but was never charged or brought to trial, the network said.

"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.

There are several hundred detainees at Guantanamo, many being held without charge.