Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 5, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba A6 Canada / world Winnipeg free press monday july 5, 2004 was Canadian freed by saudis in prisoner Swap by Jim Brown o Ottawa ? the tale of Bill Samp son a Canadian jailed for 31 months and accused of terrorism and murder in saudi Arabia has taken another bizarre twist with a claim that he finally won his Freedom last year in a prisoner Exchange brokered by the United states. In return for the release of Sampson and other westerners held in Riyadh the americans agreed to Send five saudi Ter ror suspects they had captured Back to their Homeland the new York times reported yesterday. The Canadian government had no immediate comment other than to say it was looking into the matter. Sampson in a Telephone interview from Penrith Britain where he now makes his Home said he a convinced the Story is Correct. It confirms information that i have found from different sources myself Over the last nine months he said. Sampson said he knows of at least two other attempted deals that fell through when Britain and Belgium ? the other countries involved in the affair ? rejected various demands made by saudi negotiators. The saudis were trying at that time to extract a Promise from the British that they would expel saudi political dissidents who had made London their base of operations said Sampson. Sampson said he has also seen belgian government documents that indicate the saudis changed their approach for the third and ultimately successful Deal. They sought american agreement to release the five saudi prisoners who had been held at the . Naval base in Guantanamo Bay Cuba. Its my information that the saudis themselves broached the idea of an Exchange said Sampson. We were used from the very very outset As hostages and this had been deliberate from the Start to use us As a Means of leverage against Western the times quoting Anonymous . And British officials said the prisoner Exchange that finally freed Sampson was engineered by Robert Jordan the american ambassador to saudi Arabia. The Deal was controversial in Washington where some officials thought the . Was taking too big a risk by releasing potentially dangerous terrorist suspects from Guantanamo said the newspaper. But the americans reportedly went ahead because they wanted to help British prime minister Tony Blair a Loyal ally in the War then shaping up in Iraq. Blair a government had been trying to win the release of six britons held along with Sampson who is a dual Canadian British citizen. Also held was belgian Raf sch eyes. All were arrested following a series of bombings in Riyadh that westerners claimed were the work of Al Aida terrorists and the saudis claimed were part of a turf War among Western Bootleg Gers involved in the illicit alcohol Trade. All eight westerners were finally set free in August 2003, three months after the five Guantanamo prisoners were sent Home to saudi Arabia. ? Canadian press soldiers celebrate july 4th in Iraq by Chris Tomlinson Camp Victory Iraq ? like Many military operations in Iraq july 4th celebrations began at Dawn. To beat the brutal summer heat sol Diers wanting to participate in a 10?kilometre fun run at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad gathered at 5 30 a.m., when the temperature dropped to 26 c. The event was the first of a series of events giving sol Diers ? not on guard duty or combat patrol ? a Chance to enjoy the most american of holidays. Soldiers attending capt. Jim Combs a Church service listened to a Sermon about Independence. The protestant pastor focused on the Book of exodus where Moses and his followers had fled slavery in Egypt but were suffer ing in the wilderness. He said that according to Bible verses there was a lot of grumbling among the hebrews while they were in the desert. Do you Ever grumble Combs asked the congregation. His message was to Pray for the leaders and have Faith. At mid morning the 1st cavalry Divi Sion kicked off a three on three Basket Ball tournament. While sitting under a camouflage net trying to stay Cool before the game specialist Robert Moore of new Haven Conn. Said the events would help him make it through the Holiday even if it did to live up to his usual celebrations. It relieves the stress and takes you away from Iraq for a Little bit Moore said with hip hop music playing in the background. Back Home id be at a Barbecue drinking a Heineken and Doin it the Only Beer soldiers in Iraq Are allowed to drink is non alcoholic but at the mess Halls Cooks set up outdoor grills to Cook Tbone steaks burgers hotdogs and Chicken. Cakes and pies were decorated in red White and Blue icing at the division mess Hall where James Brown played Over the speakers and can showed on television screens. For the combat soldiers on duty there was no let up. . Commanders did not want to slow their operations on july 4 for fear insurgents would use the Day to stage a symbolic attack. The one thing not on the schedule was fireworks. At least not from our Side one offi cer Wise cracked. ? associated press ;