2 Uighurs go to Switzerland from Guantanamo

WASHINGTON: The United States has sent two Chinese Muslims to Switzerland, ending their eight years of detention at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The Justice Department announced the transfer Wednesday. It did not identify the detainees, but the Obama administration has previously said the Swiss had agreed to resettle two brothers, Arkin Mahmud and Bahtiyar Mahnut.

There are now 183 detainees at Guantanamo, including five Chinese Muslims, or Uighurs (WEE'-gurs). They have been regarded as symbols of the unfairness of the U.S. detention policy following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Switzerland's decision to accept the brothers led the Supreme Court to scuttle a case on detainee rights.