WASHINGTON, October 12 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton thanked the government of Ireland for accepting two prisoners accused of terrorism from Guantanamo Bay.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen in Dublin, Clinton said, "Obviously, we have worked closely with the Irish Government to effectuate this transfer. And we're not only appreciative, but quite admiring of the approach that this government has taken."

The United States opened a detention center for terrorist suspects in 2002 at its Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba. Soon after taking office this year, President Barack Obama said the jail would be closed within a year.

Clinton said that the United States is working hard to find the countries willing to take inmates from the prison in Guantanamo.

"We are working every day to find placements for those detainees who can be appropriately transferred, as the two coming here have been, but we are also well aware that it will be difficult with certain populations," she said.