CIA recruited Guantanamo Bay suspects to spy on al-Qa'ida leaders post 9/11

The CIA turned some terror suspects, who were rounded up and delivered to the Guantanamo Bay military prison Cuba in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, into double agents.

The programme was run from a secret facility within Guantanamo Bay from 2002 to 2006 and drew the personal attention of George W Bush who was then in the White House.

According to the Independent, a number of terror suspects were successfully turned and sent back to their countries to reconnect with the al-Qa'ida network and spy on them and give information to the CIA.

Only those believed still to have legitimate contacts with top leaders in the terror group were considered for the secret programme.

Once identified, those recruited were given large sums of cash and promises from the CIA that their safety and that of their families would thereafter be assured.

The money for the men was drawn from a secret CIA fund called the 'Pledge'.

According to the report, these special recruits were offered equally special privileges while they remained at Guantanamo Bay, including being taken out of the main cell blocks and moved to a group of small, relatively cosy bungalows.