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Guantanamo Bay: US in largest detainee transfer under Obama Guantanamo Bay: US in largest detainee transfer under Obama
(about 3 hours later)
The 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 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 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 inmates had been held without charge, some for over 14 years.The released inmates had been held without charge, some for over 14 years.
President Obama wants to close the prison before he leaves office.President Obama wants to close the prison before he leaves office.
Life after Guantanamo prison
Will Guantanamo prison finally close?Will Guantanamo prison finally close?
The White House also wants to transfer the remaining inmates to the US - but has been blocked by Congress. What is Guantanamo Bay?
Mr Obama believes Guantanamo Bay fuels the recruitment of jihadists and creates stronger anti-US feelings. A detention facility on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba.
Trump's pledge The jail was opened by former US President George W Bush in January 2002 to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 11 September attacks in 2001 and the subsequent US-led invasion of Afghanistan.
In 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." Some 779 men have been brought there since it opened.
In April, nine Yemeni prisoners were sent to Saudi Arabia. Why does Obama want to close it?
The Guantanamo Bay prison is located on an American naval base in south-eastern Cuba. The president says its existence harms partnerships with countries whose help the US needs in fighting terrorism.
Former US President George W Bush opened the jail in January 2002 to accommodate foreign terror suspects after the 11 September attacks in 2001. He says Guantanamo Bay is contrary to US values, undermining the nation's standing in the world - a standing based on support for the rule of law.
The facility, which costs $445m (£345m) to run annually, one point held more than 700 detainees. Most inmates there have not been charged and, in February, Mr Obama lamented that "not a single verdict has been reached" on those there that have.
In February, the White House presented a plan to Congress to close the camp. He also believes the facility fuels the recruitment of jihadists.
But many Republicans remain strongly opposed to bringing inmates to the US, saying they are extremely dangerous and do not belong in civilian prisons. It's also expensive to run - $445m (£345m) annually.
So why has it not been closed?
One key point is that Mr Obama needs congressional approval and both houses have a Republican majority.
Many Republicans back keeping the facility open.
Ed 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."Ed 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."
Most of the prisoners freed from Guantanamo Bay - a total of 532 - were released under the previous administration of George W Bush. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said that, if elected, he will fill it with "bad dudes" and "bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding" - a controversial interrogation technique human rights activists regard as torture.
The office of the director of national intelligence says 21% of those went on to re-engage in militant activities, while of those released under Mr Obama only 5% have done so. The other major issue is what to do with the remaining inmates. Mr Obama has attempted to have them brought to the US for trial.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has vowed to keep the Guantanamo Bay facility open, saying he will fill it with "bad dudes" and "bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding", referring to the controversial interrogation technique human rights activists regard as torture. However, only one Guantanamo inmate has been transferred to the US for trial. Tanzanian Ahmed Ghailani was jailed for life in 2011 before Congress barred the transfer of any others.
Naureen Shah, security and human rights programme director for Amnesty International US, urged Mr Obama to close the facility before he left office, saying, "we are at an extremely dangerous and pivotal point". Politicians from both parties have said that Guantanamo prisoners do not belong on US soil or in civilian prisons, arguing they are too dangerous.
What are the inmate numbers?
Afghans, Saudis and Yemenis have made up more than 60% of the prisoners, although about 50 different nationalities have been represented.
The vast majority of the 779 inmates were released under the previous administration of George W Bush. Nine have died at the prison.
Mr Obama has approved regular releases, totalling 161, with detainees heading for resettlement around the world.
Who are the key prisoners left?
Only 61 prisoners remain, of whom 20 are approved for release. The key figures left (all of whom have been charged and are currently in pre-trial hearings) are:
What has happened to those released?
Figures from the office of the director of national intelligence show that, of the inmates released under George W Bush, 21% were confirmed to have re-engaged in militant activity, while 14% were suspected of having done so.
Of the releases under President Obama, only 5% were confirmed to have re-engaged in militant activity and 8% were suspected of having done so.
Many of those released have simply returned to their homelands. Many returning Afghans harbour resentment both at why they were sent to Guantanamo Bay and their treatment there. Many still report harassment by security forces although they insist they pose no threat.
Among the countries taking inmates in releases under Mr Obama are the UAE, Georgia, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Morocco, the UK, Mauritania, Oman, Bosnia, Montenegro, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Uruguay, Estonia and El Salvador.
Inevitably the results have been mixed, given cultural differences.
Uruguay took six Arab men in December 2014 but later said it would take no more, arguing the ex-inmates had struggled to adapt to the country.
One inmate, Abu Bakker Qassi, a Uighur from north-western China, found himself working as a pizza chef cooking halal Italian food in Albania.