Complex sentence: Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, has confirmed that the UK is holding "80 or 90 Afghan detainees" at the military base., the Ministry of Defence maintains the detention of the Afghans is legal.
Split into simpler sentences: Philip Hammond, the defence secretary, has confirmed that the UK is holding "80 or 90 Afghan detainees" at the base. The Ministry of Defence maintains the detention of the Afghans is legal.