Guantanamo Bay: Osama Bin Laden's former driver has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for providing material support to Al Qaida.

A jury of six military officers sentenced Salim Hamdan on Thursday.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Hamdan's status would revert to "enemy combatant" when his sentence is completed.

As an enemy combatant, Hamdan could remain in US custody indefinitely, although he would be eligible to appeal.

Prosecutors recommended a sentence of 30 years to life in prison, while defence attorneys sought a sentence of 45 months or less.

Hamdan on Thursday testified that he was "shocked" when he found out about the September 11 attacks, and expressed sorrow as he pleaded for leniency.