President George W. Bush and Ali Abdullah Saleh, his Yemeni counterpart, yesterday congratulated each other on their close co-operation in fighting the "war on terror", but behind the scenes diplomats say relations remain troubled by the fate of more than 100 Yemeni prisoners held by the US in Guantánamo Bay.

The Bush administration says it would close the detention centre "tomorrow", by repatriating prisoners and putting others on trial.