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Commander of Guantanamo Bay prison is fired

Officials say the commander that runs the prison has been fired for a “loss of confidence in his ability to command”

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Ring.jpg

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. John Ring, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Commander, pauses while speaking during a roundtable discussion with the media, at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.

AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Military officials say the commander of the task force that runs the prison at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been fired for a “loss of confidence in his ability to command.”

A statement from U.S. Southern Command says Navy Rear Adm. John Ring was relieved of duty Saturday. The facility’s deputy commander, Army Brig. Gen. John Hussey, has been designated the acting commander.

The commander of Southern Command, Navy Adm. Craig Faller, relieved Ring. The statement says the change in leadership “will not interrupt the safe, humane, legal care and custody provided to the detainee population at GTMO.”

About 40 prisoners are being held at the facility. At its peak, in mid-2003, it held nearly 700.

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