Three men were sent to Georgia and two to Slovakia for resettlement. They were among dozens of low-level prisoners at Guantanamo that an administration task force in 2009 deemed to no longer pose a threat.

The release of the men, four Yemenis and a Tunisian, brings the prison population to 143, about 100 fewer than when President Barack Obama took office pledging to close the detention center.

Obama's vow to close Guantanamo was thwarted by Congress, which prohibited sending any prisoner to the U.S. and imposed restrictions that brought releases to a halt.

Congress eased the transfer restrictions last December, and releases have resumed. A number of resettlements are expected in the coming weeks. U.S. State Department envoy Clifford Sloan has been trying to persuade countries to accept prisoners, and he praised Georgia and Slovakia.