The US government says it has sent six Guantanamo Bay detainees to Uruguay for resettlement.

A Pentagon statement identified the men as four Syrians, a Tunisian and a Palestinian. They are named as Ahmed Adnan Ahjam, Ali Hussain Shaabaan, Omar Mahmoud Faraj, Abdul Bin Mohammed Abis Ourgy, Mohammed Tahanmatan, and Jihad Diyab.

All six had been detained as suspected militants with ties to al-Qaeda, but they were never charged.

President José Mujica decided to take the detainees on humanitarian grounds in March but the move was delayed until after Uruguay's elections.

According to the Pentagon release, “the United States is grateful to the government of Uruguay for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The United States coordinated with the government of Uruguay to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures."

The statement adds that 136 detainees remain at the Guantanamo detention camp.