Six men detained for more than a decade at the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay Cuba were sent to Uruguay for resettlement on Sunday, the Pentagon said, the latest step in a slow-moving effort by the Obama administration to close the facility.
The released men, including four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian were flown to South America aboard a US military plane. They represent the largest single group to leave the internationally condemned US detention camp since 2009.
After assuming office, US President Barack Obama promised to shut the prison, citing its damage to America’s image around the world. Six years later, Obama has been unable to shut down the prison, partly because of obstacles posed by the US Congress.
