The US is said to be planning the release of up to 140 prisoners from Guantanamo Bay at the end of this month. While they would be freed from US custody, it is not clear if they will face trial on terrorism charges in their home countries.
The pressure on the US to resolve the cases of the detainees has been building for several weeks.
First, the US Supreme Court said that it would examine whether the prisoners should have recourse to regular civilian courts. This was followed by comments from senior American and British legal figures criticising the detentions.
Recent al-Qaeda statements have threatened more suicide bombings if the prisoners are not freed. Now unnamed sources within the military are quoted as saying that transfers will begin soon.
There are no details on who would be released from US custody but reports in London suggest a deal is close on the fate of nine British detainees.
The Bush administration wants them to face justice back in their home countries.
