Canada to Seek Emergency Stay of Guantanamo ex-Inmate Bail

The Canadian government said Monday it will seek an emergency stay of bail granted by a Canadian judge to former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr.

The application would be heard Tuesday morning, ahead of a scheduled hearing to set Khadr's release conditions, said Jeremy Laurin, spokesman for Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney.

"Omar Ahmed Khadr pleaded guilty to heinous crimes, including the murder of American Army medic Sergeant Christopher Speer," Laurin said.

Ottawa has and will continue to "vigorously defend against any attempt to lessen his punishment for these crimes," he added.

Khadr was 15 years old when he was captured on an Afghan battlefield in 2002 and sent to the U.S. jail in Cuba.

He was the youngest detainee at the Caribbean prison.

In 2010, Khadr was sentenced to eight years following a U.S. military hearing in which he agreed to plead guilty to Speer's murder in violation of the laws of war, attempted murder, conspiracy, providing material support for terrorism and spying.

As part of the agreement, he would be sent home to Canada for the remainder of his sentence.

Last month, the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta granted the now 28-year-old Khadr bail pending the outcome of an appeal of his war crimes conviction before a U.S. special military court.