KABUL, Afghanistan  —  The U.S. military released more than 80 Afghans from its jails in Afghanistan (search) on Sunday after deciding that they posed no threat and hearing them swear loyalty to the government, officials said.

Eighty-six men were brought by bus from the main American base at Bagram to the capital and freed after a closed-door ceremony, said Rahmat Nadim (search), an Afghan intelligence service official.

He said none of the men, who had spent up to two-and-a-half years in custody, were taken to the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay (search), Cuba.

Lt. Cindy Moore (search), a U.S. spokesman, confirmed the release, but put the number freed at 85.

Groups of prisoners are regularly released from the military's jails in Afghanistan and Cuba. Seventeen Afghans arrived home from Guantanamo on April 19, some of them complaining of abuse by their captors.