Spain may accept Guantanamo Bay detainees

Spain may accept Guantanamo Bay detainees
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 |
CBC News

Spain has told the United States it is open "in principle" to accepting some prisoners currently being held at Guantanamo Bay when the military base is shut down.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos told Spanish National Radio on Wednesday that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had asked for his country's help.

"I responded that Spain, in principle, is open to collaborating in accepting some prisoners as long as the legal conditions, when they are transferred, are acceptable," said Moratinos.

Moratinos and Clinton met Tuesday in Washington.

Last month, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order to close the Cuban-based U.S. military prison within a year.

Aid groups say there is an urgent need to find new homes for about 55-60 international detainees who face an uncertain future in their home countries. There are 250 detainees at Guantanamo.

Media reports have stated there are six detainees, including three Uighurs, who have applied for resettlement in Canada. The Uighurs are a Muslim minority group from northwestern China, many of whom have fought for independence from China.

Canadian Omar Khadr has been held at the prison since 2002 after he was involved in a battle with American troops in Afghanistan. The 22-year-old is accused of throwing a grenade that killed a U.S. soldier.

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