US sends four Afghan Guantanamo inmates home

The United States has returned four Afghans from Guantanamo Bay back to their home country.

US officials said the transfer from the detention centre is a sign of their confidence in new Afghan president Ashraf Ghani.

Administration officials said they worked quickly to fulfil his request to return the four detainees. They had been cleared for transfer as a kind of reconciliation and an indication of improved US-Afghan relations.

The Defence Department identities them as Mohammed Zahir, Shawali Khan, Abdul Ghani and Khi Ali Gul.

Eight Afghans are among the 132 detainees remaining at Guantanamo.

The move is the latest in a series of transfers as President Barack Obama tries to reduce the number of those held at Guantanamo and works toward his goal of closing the detention centre.

AP