US frees 15 more prisoners from Guantanamo base

The United States has released 15 more prisoners from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sending them to countries including…

The United States has released 15 more prisoners from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sending them to countries including Afghanistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Sudan, Iraq, Jordan and Yemen, the Pentagon said today.

A US defence department official said the prisoners, who were not identified beyond their nationalities, were flown out of Guantanamo in the past few days.

It was the latest of several releases from the military prison, set up after President George W Bush declared a global war on terrorism in 2001 and where about 595 people are still detained. Only two of those still held have been charged with crimes.

Most of those sent home have been freed, although some are being detained further by their countries for possible prosecution.