Guantanamo Bay closure inches closer
Barack Obama's wish to close Guantanamo Bay prison camp moves step closer after Congress passes important bill
Wednesday, 21, Oct 2009 09:57
By Matthew Champion.
Barack Obama's wish to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp has moved a step closer after Congress passed a key piece of legislation.
Senators voted 79 to 19 to pass the bill, accepted by the House of Representatives last week, which allows detainees to face trial on American soil.
President Obama is now expected to sign the bill into law shortly.
In an attempt to breakaway from his predecessor's war on terror, President Obama signed an executive order two days after his inauguration ordering the closure of Guantanamo within one year.
About 220 detainees remain at the deeply controversial prison camp in Cuba, which has drawn consistent international condemnation since being set up after the September 11th terrorist attacks.
President Obama's resolve to shut the camp is being resisted by right-wingers in his country uncomfortable at terror suspects being housed in US prisons.
Critics say detainees do not deserve legal protection afforded them by the American justice system, preferring the military tribunal route favoured by George Bush.
The legislation passed last night, part of a $42.7 billion funding bill for the department of homeland security, only allows for Guantanamo detainees to be transferred to the US if they are awaiting trial.
It does not answer questions over whether prisoners can be held indefinitely without charge and their fate if put on trial and acquitted.