Washington  - The United States has transferred two detainees who had been held at the Guantanamo Bay prison to the governments of Belgium and Kuwait, the US Justice Department said Friday.

They were turned over to the two countries as part of President Barack Obama's plans to close the controversial facility by January. There are now about 220 detainees remaining there.

Kuwait has taken custody of Khalid Abdullah Mishal al-Mutairi, a native of the country. The second prisoner's name was withheld at the request of the Belgian government, the Justice Department said.

The Justice Department is heading Obama's task force to formulate a plan for closing Guantanamo. US officials have acknowledged the challenges associated with closing Guantanamo will make it difficult to meet the January 22 deadline. dpa