Guantanamo Bay prison order John Ring fired

Washington – US Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has been fired for a "loss of confidence in his ability to command."

A statement from US Southern Command says Navy Rear Adm. John Ring was relieved of those duties Saturday. The deputy commander, Army Brig. Gen. John Hussey, has been designated as acting commander.

The commander of Southern Command, Navy Adm. Craig Faller, was the officer who removed Ring. The statement says the change in leadership "will not break 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.

The Guantanamo detention center was opened under President George W. Bush to hold terrorism suspects Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Some of its alleged practices have been extremely controversial over the years – including alleged torture.

The New York Times, who worked on the story with the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting.

The Times said the move came seven weeks before. The newspaper said it was told the firing "had nothing to do with a recent news about it hosted there" and was "let go after a monthlong investigation that was opened in March."

During that tour, the ring expressed concern about caring for those who were approaching old age.