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| Six Guantanamo detainees transferred to Uruguay as Obama works to close prison | Six Guantanamo detainees transferred to Uruguay as Obama works to close prison |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Six detainees held at the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were finally transferred to Uruguay over the weekend, months after the South American country had agreed to accept the men, the Pentagon announced Sunday. | Six detainees held at the U.S. military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, were finally transferred to Uruguay over the weekend, months after the South American country had agreed to accept the men, the Pentagon announced Sunday. |
| The detainees included a Tunisian, a Palestinian and four Syrians who were captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan more than a decade ago and turned over to U.S. forces. | The detainees included a Tunisian, a Palestinian and four Syrians who were captured in Pakistan and Afghanistan more than a decade ago and turned over to U.S. forces. |
| One of the men, Abu Wa’el Dhiab, who has been on hunger strike, is at the center of litigation in federal court in D.C. involving the possible release of videos showing him being force fed. | One of the men, Abu Wa’el Dhiab, who has been on hunger strike, is at the center of litigation in federal court in D.C. involving the possible release of videos showing him being force fed. |
| “We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President (José ) Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries,” said Clifford Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy tasked with closing the prison. | “We are very grateful to Uruguay for this important humanitarian action, and to President (José ) Mujica for his strong leadership in providing a home for individuals who cannot return to their own countries,” said Clifford Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy tasked with closing the prison. |
| “This transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility,” Sloan added. | “This transfer is a major milestone in our efforts to close the facility,” Sloan added. |
| In January, Sloan led a U.S. to team to Uruguay and met with Mujica, the country’s president. | In January, Sloan led a U.S. to team to Uruguay and met with Mujica, the country’s president. |
| U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuse diplomatic negotiations, said an agreement was reached then with the country to transfer the detainees, with Julissa Reynoso, the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, playing a key role in the talks. | U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuse diplomatic negotiations, said an agreement was reached then with the country to transfer the detainees, with Julissa Reynoso, the U.S. ambassador to Uruguay, playing a key role in the talks. |
| Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel initially was reluctant to approve the transfer. But he finally notified Congress in early July that the resettlement would take place no sooner than 30 days. The administration is required by law to provide a 30-day advance notice to Congress of its intent to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay. | Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel initially was reluctant to approve the transfer. But he finally notified Congress in early July that the resettlement would take place no sooner than 30 days. The administration is required by law to provide a 30-day advance notice to Congress of its intent to transfer detainees out of Guantanamo Bay. |
| By the time the U.S. was ready to move the men, a presidential election in Uruguay stalled the transfer. In November, former president Tabare Vazquez won a runoff vote, and the deal to accept the detainees was back on track. | By the time the U.S. was ready to move the men, a presidential election in Uruguay stalled the transfer. In November, former president Tabare Vazquez won a runoff vote, and the deal to accept the detainees was back on track. |
| Mujica, a former guerilla who spent years behind bars, has called the Guantanamo Bay prison a disgrace. On Friday, his office released an open letter to President Obama reiterating his willingness to accept detainees. | Mujica, a former guerilla who spent years behind bars, has called the Guantanamo Bay prison a disgrace. On Friday, his office released an open letter to President Obama reiterating his willingness to accept detainees. |
| “We have offered our hospitality for human beings who suffered an atrocious kidnapping in Guantanamo,” he said. | “We have offered our hospitality for human beings who suffered an atrocious kidnapping in Guantanamo,” he said. |
| In an interview with The Washington Post in May, Mujica said that the prisoners would be considered refugees and his government did not intend to monitor them. | In an interview with The Washington Post in May, Mujica said that the prisoners would be considered refugees and his government did not intend to monitor them. |
| The resettlement of the men brings the total number of detainees held at the facility to 136, with more possible transfers in the works for this year, officials said. | The resettlement of the men brings the total number of detainees held at the facility to 136, with more possible transfers in the works for this year, officials said. |
| The Obama administration has successfully transferred 16 detainees this year as it inches toward its goal of shutting down the prison. | The Obama administration has successfully transferred 16 detainees this year as it inches toward its goal of shutting down the prison. |
| The Syrians released are Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Husein Shaaban, Abd al Hadi Omar Mahmoud Faraj and Dhiab. The other two are Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Tahamuttan, Tunisian Abdul Bin Mohammed Bin Abess Ourgy. | The Syrians released are Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Husein Shaaban, Abd al Hadi Omar Mahmoud Faraj and Dhiab. The other two are Palestinian Mohammed Abdullah Tahamuttan, Tunisian Abdul Bin Mohammed Bin Abess Ourgy. |
| In 2009, the Guantanamo Review Task Force, set up by the Obama administration, had recommended that all of them, including Dhiab, be transferred. | In 2009, the Guantanamo Review Task Force, set up by the Obama administration, had recommended that all of them, including Dhiab, be transferred. |
| All of the men except for the Tunisian had ties to Abu Zubaida, an alleged key facilitator for al-Qaeda; two of the men were captured in Pakistan during raids that also netted Zubaida. | |
| Ourgy, the Tunisian, was a suspected member of al-Qaeda and senior explosives trainer. His alias was found on the hard drive of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. | Ourgy, the Tunisian, was a suspected member of al-Qaeda and senior explosives trainer. His alias was found on the hard drive of Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. |
| Julie Tate contributed to this report. | Julie Tate contributed to this report. |