A federal appeals court has given a reprieve to a Guantanamo Bay detainee who is fighting the Bush administration's effort to return him to Algeria where he says he likely would be tortured.
A panel of appeallate judges in Washington says the case of Ahmed Belbacha (AH-med bel-BA-kah) deserves another review by a U.S. District Court judge.
The appeals court ruling Friday says the probability of Belbacha prevailing is far from clear. But the court says he is entitled to further consideration in light of the seriousness of the harm he might face if he ends up back in his home country of Algeria.
Belbacha contends his life would be in danger, both from the government and from al-Qaida.
