Washington: The US government announced that 15 inmates held at the Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have been transferred to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The transfer of the 15 detainees - 12 Yemeni and 3 Afghan citizens - brought the total number of prisoners in Guantanamo, which accommodated nearly 800 in 2002, down to 61, EFE news reported.

In a statement on Monday, the Pentagon said that the decision was taken after a group of experts consisting of representatives from six US government departments and agencies granted approval. Some of the detainees transferred to the UAE spent up to 14 years in Guantanamo and were held there without charges laid against them.