Oman takes 10 inmates from Guantanamo jail

Oman has accepted 10 detainees from the US prison at Guantanamo Bay ahead of president Barack Obama leaving office, as part of his bid to cut numbers at the jail he vowed to close.

Oman’s foreign ministry said yesterday it had taken the prisoners at Mr Obama’s request.

“In consideration of their humanitarian situation, 10 persons have been released from detention and arrived in the sultanate today for a temporary residence,” the ministry said. Oman accepted 10 Guantanamo prisoners, originally from Yemen, in January last year, and six in June 2015.

Saudi Arabia took four prisoners this month and the UAE took 15 in the largest single transfer during Mr Obama’s administration in August.

He was unable to fulfil promises to close the prison, in part because of congressional opposition to transferring any of the detainees to US prisons.

US president- elect Donald Trump has said he wants to keep Guantanamo open and “load it up with bad dudes”.