[JURIST] The US Department of Defense (DOD) [official website] on Tuesday announced [press release] that two Guantanamo [JURIST news archive] detainees have been transferred to Algeria. The DOD hailed the move as proof of the effectiveness of its review processes, and stated that another 65 detainees are scheduled for transfer. Plans for the transfer were first made public [press release; JURIST report] in July, and it is estimated that 265 detainees remain at the base. The Bradenton Herald has more.

Algerian Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz indicated in March that officials from his country had visited Guantanamo to identify Algerian detainees [JURIST report], and said that although the country would accept repatriation of the 17 then still held there, some might face criminal charges upon their return. Another Algerian, Sufyian Barhoumi [charge sheet, PDF] was among a group of three Guantanamo prisoners charged [JURIST report] in May with conspiracy and providing material support for terrorism based on alleged involvement with an al Qaeda bomb-making group in Pakistan and Afghanistan.