Report: Detainee Deal With Saudis Close

5030327The United States is nearing a deal that would send nearly 100 Yemeni detainees held at Guantanamo Bay to Saudi Arabia, according to a Wall Street Journal report Thursday.

Officials told the Journal the deal could speed up President Obama's plan to close the U.S. military facility that houses alleged terrorists.

Of the nearly 250 people held at Guantanamo, nearly half are from Yemen and are among the most difficult to transfer given their alleged ties to al Qaeda, the Journal reports.

President Obama discussed such a deal with Yemen's president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, last month, officials told the Journal.

The U.S. has recently reached deals to send Chinese Uighur detainees to both Palau and Bermuda.

For more on the proposed deal to send Yemeni detainees to Saudi Arabia, click here ($).