Portugal has agreed to resettle two Syrian Guantanamo Bay detainees to assist in US President Barack Obama's plan to close the controversial prison camp by next year, the US State Department confirmed Friday.

Portugal would become one of several countries in the European Union to accept at least one Guantanamo prisoner, along with Britain, France, Ireland and Spain.

"We are encouraged that so may of our close friends and allies are also considering assisting us in our efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facilities," State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood said.

Obama has pledged to close the prison by the end of January as he attempts to rebuild the US’ image in the world. The facility has been a source of sharp criticism of the United States, especially from the European Union.

Some detainees have already been settled in Bermuda and Albania, which is not a member of the bloc. More than 200 detainees remain locked up at the camp on the naval installation in Cuba.

Wood said the United States and Portugal were still working on the details to transfer custody. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry announced earlier on its website that it had reached a deal with Washington to take the prisoners, whose names have not been released.

mrm/dpa/AP/Reuters
Editor: Andreas Illmer