Washington, August 29: Two Syrians held at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay have been sent to Portugal, the Justice Department said on Friday, the latest move as President Barack Obama tries to close the controversial facility by January.
“The United States has coordinated with the government of Portugal to ensure the transfers take place under appropriate security measures and will continue to consult with the government of Portugal regarding these detainees,” it said.
Before these transfers, a dozen suspected militants have been released since Obama took office seven months ago and one has been sent to New York to await trial in a U.S. court.
Some U.S. lawmakers have questioned whether Obama can deal with the remaining 226 prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay prison, on a U.S. military base in Cuba, by mid-January.
Earlier this week, the United States released one of the youngest detainees held at Guantanamo to Afghanistan.
The prison was opened by the Bush administration to hold suspected militants after the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.
–Agencies