Osama bin Laden's former driver, Salim Hamdan, was found guilty on a terrorism charge Wednesday in the first verdict to come through the controversial U.S. military tribunal process at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Hamdan, a Yemeni citizen who was captured in Afghanistan in 2001, was convicted of providing material support for terrorism, but acquitted of conspiring with al-Qaeda.
Hamdan, the first Guantanamo Bay prisoner to go on trial, could face life in prison.
Of the base's approximately 265 other prisoners, including Canadian citizen Omar Khadr, the Pentagon says it intends to prosecute about 80.
He was taken to Guantanamo in May 2002.
Identified al-Qaeda safehouses, U.S. authorities say
U.S. authorities have said that Hamdan identified key Islamist leaders, mapped out bin Laden's escape routes and led them to al-Qaeda safehouses after he was captured at a roadblock in southern Afghanistan in November 2001.
Hamdan's defence lawyers argued that he was a low-level employee who did not materially contribute to unlawful militant acts.
The system of military tribunals, introduced under the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, has come under fire for years from critics who say it is unconstitutional.
In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court declared the military tribunals illegal and in violation of American and international law.
As a result of that ruling, the Bush administration made changes to the military tribunals, which now have congressional approval.
In June, the top court ruled that foreign suspects held at the high security military jail at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the American Constitution to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.
