IT'S A START

U.S. Frees Three From Gitmo

Ethnic Uighur Chinese.

The U.S. military released three Uighur detainees from Guantánamo Tuesday, offering hope for the prison's long-anticipated closure. The move, praised by the Pentagon as a "significant milestone," marks the final release of the 22 ethnic Uighur Chinese nationals who were brought to the prison in 2001. Scheduled to be released in 2008, the prisoners were held for years as the U.S. struggled to find a secure new home. The Slovakian government—who accepted the three—validated the release Tuesday. "The persons in this transport have never been suspected nor accused of terrorism." At least 155 detainees remain at Guantánamo.