Six Chinese Muslims formerly detained at the US Guantánamo Bay prison camp have arrived in the island state of Palau. They have been sent there by the US government as part of the Obama administration's efforts to close the controversial detention facility on Cuba.

The Chinese Uighurs were arrested in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2001 and transferred to Guantánamo Bay. The US authorities have decided not to risk sending them back to their native China for fear they might be tortured or even face the death sentence for belonging to a terrorist movement.

Palau, an island state around 800 kilometres east of the Philippines offered to take in the former detainees, who have been cleared of all charge brought against them. Since gaining its independence in 1994, Palau has been heavily reliant on US aid.