Is the US trading prisoners to prevent hostages from being beheaded?

Here is a story that isnt getting much attention.Another story about itcan be found here. Basically it suggests that the Saudi government grabbed a number of Brits in Saudi Arabia, and tortured them to extract false confessions. Once they had the confessions they were sentenced to death by beheading and then ransomed back to the west with the US intervening by returning 5 al Qaeda suspects to Saudi Arabia. One interpretation of this would be that we basically turned over prisoners to Saudi Arabia in exchange for them not beheading hostages. This is of particular relevence given the outrage we have shown in this country towards the actions of the Philippine government. We are on very thin ground when we argue that we dont negotiate with terrorists. It's also disturbing that our government won't really come clean on this. Not that it is a surprise, but it is still disappointing.