The United States decided to transfer 10 detainees from its Guantanamo Bay prison camp for terrorism suspects to Saudi Arabia, the Defence Department said Friday. "These detainees were determined to be eligible for transfer following a comprehensive series of review processes," it said in a statement.
"The transfer is a demonstration of the United States' desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary." More than 60 prisoners are eligible for transfer from the base in a US-held enclave in eastern Cuba, it said, adding that discussions about transferring these suspects were ongoing with other countries.
The administration of George W. Bush has said it intends to close the prison. Rights groups have criticised the holding of suspects there for long periods without trial or access to regular courts. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said last week the administration had made little progress towards the closure goal. He said the government had hit legal obstacles, as well as the question of what to do with the prisoners there.
Guantanamo is now home to about 275 detainees seized during the US "war on terror" that was launched after the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Since 2002 some 500 have left the camp for other countries, the department said.