[JURIST] The US Defense Department said Wednesday that 15 detainees have been transferred [press release] from Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive], bringing the total number of detainees released from the US detention facility to approximately 485. Thirteen detainees were transferred to Afghanistan, and the other two were transferred to Sudan.

The total number of Guantanamo detainees eligible for transfer is now about 70, and the DOD said Wednesday that "departure of these detainees is subject to ongoing discussions between the United States and other nations." In August, US President George W. Bush expressed hope that the Guantanamo detention facility would eventually be shut down [JURIST report], but said that other countries have shown reluctance to accept detainees. Roughly 290 detainees remain at the prison facility, and the US has said that some 80 detainees will face prosecution by military commission. AP has more.