Australia to End Restrictions on Ex-Gitmo Detainee

In this Nov. 18, 2008 photo released by Getup shows former Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks who...

In this Nov. 18, 2008 photo released by Getup shows former Guantanamo Bay inmate David Hicks who released a video message through a political group pleading for Australian police to stop restricting his life, in Sydney, Nov. 20, 2008. The 33-year old former cowboy turned Taliban foot soldier was freed from a prison in his home town of Adelaide in South Australia state in December last year after a nine-month sentence following 5 1/2 years in captivity without trial at the U.S. military prison camp in Cuba. (AP Photo/Getup, Jarra McGrath, HO)

(AP)

Australian police said Thursday they will stop restricting the movements and communications of a former Guantanamo Bay detainee after he broke his long media silence to ask them to let him "get on with" his life.

If the restrictions are lifted, David Hicks will be a completely free man for the first time since he was captured by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan in late 2001 and handed to U.S. troops invading to unseat the Taliban regime.

Hicks, a 33-year-old former Outback cowboy and kangaroo skinner turned Taliban foot soldier, has been subject to a control order since his release from prison in his home state of South Australia last December.

Under the order, Hicks must report to police three days a week, observe a curfew and is banned from using any telephone or Internet account not approved by police. It is due to expire next month.

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Hicks released a 54-second video message to the public Thursday through a political lobby group opposed to Australia's toughened anti-terrorism laws, saying he feared police will ask for the control order to be extended for another year.

"I don't know what the future holds for me," Hicks says in the video, posted on the GetUp! group's Web site. "The only thing I do know is that until the control order is lifted, I will not be able to get on with my life."

Australian Federal Police initially said it would be inappropriate to comment on whether they were seeking an extension of the control order.

Hours later, it released a second statement. "Following extensive consultation with a number of agencies, the AFP has decided it will not be seeking a further control order in respect of Mr. Hicks." it said.

It was unclear if the government would allow Hicks to apply for a new passport or travel overseas.

Attorney General Robert McClelland was not immediately available for comment.

The Muslim convert spent 5 1/2 years in captivity without trial at the U.S. military prison in Cuba before pleading guilty to supporting terrorism at a U.S. military tribunal in exchange for serving a nine-month sentence in Australia.