Two Algerians still detained in Guantanamo: Algerian official

Two Algerian nationals are still detained in the U.S. detention camp of Guantanamo in southern Cuba, Algeria's Justice Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

"Out of the 26 inmates that had been identified in 2006, 18 were released and tried by the Algerian justice," the statement said.

It specified that another six detainees were transferred to different host countries, while two are still detained in Guantanamo.

The statement was issued following reports that the Algerian government had abandoned its nationals detained at the U.S. prison.

The statement said the issue of Algerian nationals held in Guantanamo is the subject of "continuous monitoring" by the Algerian authorities with their U.S. counterparts.

Guantanamo is a military detention facility part of a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay in southeastern Cuba. It hosts people that were captured by U.S. forces in various operations conducted abroad, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, against potential militants and terrorists.

In November 2008, U.S. President Barack Obama promised to close the camp, regarding the increasing number of suicide acts taking place there, noting that the Supreme Court of the United States declared illegal the judicial proceedings being implemented at this high security detention camp. Endit