The Pentagon said Thursday that it has transferred five Kuwaitis detained at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to their homeland.

Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman said the five detainees have already arrived in Kuwait this morning and the transfer was recommended by an administrative review board.

A Pentagon statement said the transfer "is based on the best information and evidence available at the time."

The five had been held at Guantanamo since early 2002, including one who has been on a hunger strike since Aug.9 and was being forced-fed.

Another two of the five Kuwaitis had joined the hunger strike but had resumed eating.

They could face criminal proceedings in Kuwait, but prefer that to remaining at the island prison of Guantanamo without being charged or tried, according to US attorneys of Guantanamo detainees.

The transfer brings the total of transferred Guantanamo detainees to 73 while another 179 have been released directly by the US government.

About 500 detainees remain held at the detention facility in Guantanamo.

Source: Xinhua