US to restart Guantanamo transfers to Yemen

US President Barack Obama plans to renew efforts to close the military prison at Guantanamo, including through a resumption of transfers of inmates to Yemen, The Wall Street Journal reported late Wednesday, dpa reported.

Obama was expected to mention his long-delayed plans to shut down the Guantanamo detention facility during a major address Thursday on terrorism policy.

The prison was opened by Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, to hold detainees captured by the United States during fighting in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other locations.

During his election campaign, and immediately after taking office in January 2009, Obama announced that he would close the prison, located in a US naval base on Cuba's Guantanamo Bay.

Opposition from Congress and difficulties in finding countries to receive prisoners stalled his closure plans and slowed the transfer of detainees.

The resumption of transfers to Yemen could be approved within weeks, the Journal reported.