Sixteen Saudis transferred from the US prison in Guantanamo Bay arrived home Monday and were immediately detained by authorities investigating possible terrorist connections, the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
A total of 77 Saudis have now been returned from Guantanamo, Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told SPA. He said 53 remain incarcerated at the US military facility in Cuba, a source of tension in US relations with Saudi Arabia, which is a close ally of Washington.
Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz expressed his "great joy" over the return of the 16 prisoners, praising "the cooperation by the American authorities," according to SPA.
He said he hoped the remaining Saudi detainees would return home in the near future.
