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17:13 GMT
WASHINGTON, July 19 (KUNA) -- Up to two Guantanamo detainees have been
transferred from the detention facility to the Governments of Algeria and Cape
Verde, the Pentagon announced here Monday.
The Department of Defense said in a statement that "Abdul Aziz Naji was
repatriated to his native Algeria, and Abd-al-Nisr Mohammed Khantumani was
resettled in Cape Verde."
It added that the U.S. is "grateful to the governments of Algeria and Cape
Verde for their willingness to support U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo
Bay detention facility."
"The United States coordinated with the governments of Algeria and Cape
Verde to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures,"
it pointed out.
The statement noted that as directed by the U.S. President Barack Obamas
January 2009 executive order, "the interagency Guantanamo Review Task Force
conducted a comprehensive review of these cases."
As a result of that review, which examined a number of factors, including
security issues, the detainees were approved for transfer by unanimous consent
among all the agencies involved in the task force.
According to the statement, "in accordance with Congressionally mandated
reporting requirements, the administration informed Congress of its intent to
transfer these individuals at least 15 days before their transfer."
Over 600 detainees have departed Guantanamo Bay for other destinations
since 2002, where there remains to be 178 detainees at Guantanamo Bay. (end)
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