[JURIST] The US Department of Defense (DOD) [official website] on Friday announced [press release] the transfer of two Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainees. One detainee was transferred to Tajikistan and one to Kazakhstan. DOD hailed the move as proof of the effectiveness of its review processes and of US desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary. The Department reports that approximately 60 detainees at Guantanamo are eligible for transfer or release. AFP has more.

There are approximately 255 detainees currently at Guantanamo. Last Tuesday, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates [official profile] confirmed that the detention facilities at Guantanamo will remain open [JURIST report] for the remainder of President George W. Bush's administration. Gates said any decision to close the prison would rest with the incoming administration.