The Pentagon on Saturday said it transferred five prisoners from Guantanamo Bay to Afghanistan, leaving about 445 detainees at the naval base in Cuba.
”These detainees were all recommended for transfer due to multiple review processes conducted at Guantanamo Bay,” the Pentagon said in a statement posted on its website on Saturday.
The Pentagon did not disclose the names of the prisoners being transferred to Afghanistan or disclose any further details.
About 120 of the remaining 445 detainees may be eligible for transfer or release pending a series of reviews, the statement said.
”Departure of these remaining detainees approved for transfer or release is subject to ongoing discussions between the United States and other nations,” the statement said.
In late June, 14 Saudi Arabian nationals were sent home, two weeks after three suicides at the facility thrust US handling of terrorism suspects back into the spotlight.
The Pentagon predicted more detainees will be transferred or released in the future. With this transfer, approximately 315 detainees have departed Guantanamo for other countries,” the statement said.
Faced with growing international condemnation of the camp after three prisoners committed suicide on June 10, President George Bush has said he would like to empty the detention centre. – Reuters