Washington(Online): he US says it has sent 15 Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United Arab Emirates – the largest single transfer during President Barack Obama’s administration.
\nThe Pentagon says the transfer of 12 Yemeni nationals and three Afghans brings the total number of prisoners down to 61 at the US facility in Cuba.
\nThe released inmates had been held without charge, some for over 14 years.
\nPresident Obama wants to close the prison before he leaves office. The White House also wants to transfer the remaining inmates to the US – but has been blocked by Congress.
\nObama believes Guantanamo Bay fuels the recruitment of jihadists and creates stronger anti-US feelings.
\nn a statement on Monday, the Pentagon said: “The United States is grateful to the government of the United Arab Emirates for its humanitarian gesture and willingness to support ongoing US efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.”
\nIn April, nine Yemeni prisoners were sent to Saudi Arabia.
\nThe Guantanamo Bay prison is located on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba.
\nFormer US President George W Bush opened the jail in January 2002 to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 11 September attacks in 2001.
\nThe facility, which costs $445m (\u00a3345m) to run annually, one point held more than 700 detainees.
\nIn February, the White House presented a plan to Congress to close the camp.
\nBut many Republicans remain strongly opposed to bringing inmates to the US, saying they are extremely dangerous and do not belong in civilian prisons.
\nEd Royce, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the latest releases, saying: “Once again, hardened terrorists are being released to foreign countries where they will be a threat.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Washington(Online): he US says it has sent 15 Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United Arab Emirates – the largest single transfer during President Barack Obama’s administration. The Pentagon says the transfer of 12 Yemeni nationals and three Afghans brings the total number of prisoners down to 61 at the US facility in Cuba. The released […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n