Madrid - Spain is preparing to take up to five detainees from the US prison facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba after it is closed by the end of the year, local media reported Wednesday.

Daniel Fried, who is the US special envoy for closing Guantanamo, was scheduled to meet Spanish government representatives in Madrid on Wednesday.

Spain was one of the first countries to announce its willingness to receive Guantanamo inmates.

The US was expected to offer Syrians and Tunisians who had asked to come to Spain, the daily El Pais reported.

The government wanted information on the circumstances of their arrest, possible security risks associated with them and on why the United States did not try them or hand them over to their countries of origin.

Spain accepts to take Guantanamo prisoners with no link to Spain, but requests that they have not been charged with terrorism.

Fried and Spanish officials were expected to discuss who would cover the financial cost of the transfer, which could be expensive if those handed over needed surveillance in Spain.

The Guantanamo inmates could request political asylum or an international protection status, which would allow them to enjoy Spanish social security benefits, El Pais quoted diplomatic sources as saying.

The former inmates could move freely in Spain, but not leave the country.

Fried was visiting a string of European countries to discuss them taking detainees from Guantanamo. The United States and European Union have agreed on a framework for EU countries to accept detainees.

About 230 prisoners remain at Guantanamo.(dpa)