Ex-Gitmo inmate Omar Khadr released on bail, disappointing Canadian gov't

Omar Khadr, a 28-year-old convicted war criminal, was granted bail on Thursday in a court in Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta in west Canada, which made the Canadian government disappointed.

The decision to give Khadr bail was made by Alberta Court of Appeal Justice Myra Bielby who rejected a call by the federal government to have Khadr remain in jail.

Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Steven Blaney, said the federal government was unhappy that Khadr was freed on bail.

"We are disappointed by the decisions of the court, because we feel that victims should be considered in those decisions," he said in a statement.

Khadr, who was born in Toronto, was captured 13 years ago in Afghanistan when he was 15 years old after a firefight with U.S. soldiers. Khadr has spent the last 13 years in prison, most recently serving time at the Bowden Institution, near Innisfail, which is a town in central Alberta.

Khadr pleaded guilty in 2010, to murder in violation of the laws of war, attempted murder in violation of the laws of war, conspiracy, and two counts of providing material support for terrorism and spying. He was transferred to Canada from Guantanamo Bay in 2012, to serve the remainder of his 13-year sentence.

Khadr was the youngest prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and the last Western citizen to be held at the detention camp. Endi