President Obama has pledged to shut the detention centre in 2010

The US has transferred 12 detainees from its Guantanamo Bay prison camp to Afghanistan, Yemen and the Somaliland region, the Justice Department says.

Six Yemenis, four Afghans and two Somali detainees were sent to their homelands over the weekend, it said.

President Barack Obama acknowledged in November that he would miss his January deadline to close down the camp.

The US plans to send 116 detainees to their home countries or to third countries willing to accept them.

Security fears

"These transfers were carried out under individual arrangements between the United States and relevant foreign authorities to ensure the transfers took place under appropriate security measures," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

"Consultations with foreign authorities regarding these individuals will continue."

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