Riyadh, (Agencies), Ten newly released Saudi Guantanamo prisoners have returned to the Kingdom the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The US department of Defense issued a statement yesterday that, “These detainees were determined to be eligible for transfer following a comprehensive series of review processes,” and that “The transfer is a demonstration of the United States’ desire not to hold detainees any longer than necessary.”

Washington has returned dozens of Saudis over the past year in an effort to reduce the numbers detained at the controversial camp ahead of finally closing it.

Public anger over the treatment of Saudi detainees in Guantanamo Bay has been high in the kingdom. Two Saudis were among three prisoners who hanged themselves at the naval base in June.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif bin Abdul-Aziz told the official news agency SPA that efforts were underway to bring home the remaining Saudis detained at Guantanamo and that U.S. authorities were cooperating in those efforts.

Guantanamo is now home to about 275 detainees seized during the US “war on terror” that was launched after the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

Since 2002 some 500 have left the camp for other countries.