Britain could take in foreign terror suspects from Guantanamo Bay in order to allow incoming US president Barack Obama to shut the prison camp down, it was reported today.
The issue is the subject of ongoing negotiations within Whitehall, with the Foreign Office pushing for a deal and a final decision expected to be made by the Cabinet, the Times newspaper said.
Mr Obama has promised to close the prison camp on Cuba, which holds detainees from the war on terror, but he is facing difficulties in resettling around 60 inmates who have been cleared for release but cannot be returned to their home countries.
Portugal has offered to take some of the detainees and is calling on other EU states to do the same.
The Times quoted an unnamed Whitehall source as saying: ?Of course the Foreign Office wants to do it, they want to get off to a good start with Obama. This is the sort of thing that will require a Cabinet-level decision.?
The Foreign Office said it recognised the US authorities would need ?assistance from allies and partners? to close down Guantanamo - something for which Britain has long pressed.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: ?We have made it clear that we think Guantanamo Bay should be closed. We recognise the legal, technical and other difficulties and that the US will require assistance from allies and partners to make this happen.
?We have long pressed the US for release of British nationals and residents. To date, we have got all British nationals back, as well as four former residents.
?We continue to press for release of the two remaining former British residents, Binyam Mohamed and Shaker Aamer. Our priority has been to get Binyam Mohamed back to the UK and our offer for receiving Shaker Aamer remains open.?
While British nationals and residents have been received back from Guantanamo without significant controversy, there can be expected to be greater concern about Britain housing former terror suspects with no personal links to the country.
Ministers and officials would have to resolve thorny issues relating to their immigration status and entitlement to assistance and benefits.
Following an open letter from Portuguese foreign minister Luis Amado earlier this month urging fellow EU states to take in Guantanamo detainees, the issue is expected to be raised at a meeting of the EU?s general affairs and external relations council in January.
The US administration is seeking help in resettling around 60 prisoners who have been cleared for release out of the 248 still at Guantanamo more than seven years after it was opened in 2001.
It is thought that the detainees considered most dangerous - between 30 and 80 individuals, including the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11th attacks, Khaled Sheikh Mohammed - will be taken to the US for trial following Mr Obama?s January 20th inauguration.
PA
