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US jail 'to house Guantanamo men' US jail to house Guantanamo men
(40 minutes later)
Several inmates from the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay are to be transferred to an Illinois prison, the White House is expected to announce. A number of inmates from the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay are to be transferred to an Illinois prison, a US official has said.
Officials are due to confirm that Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois will be acquired by the federal government, US media report. The Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois, will house between 35 and 90 detainees, US media report.
It will house about 100 Guantanamo detainees suspected of terror offences, reports say. The official said closing Guantanamo detention centre was "essential" to remove a key al-Qaeda recruiting tool.
President Barack Obama has pledged to close the Cuba-based camp. President Barack Obama has pledged to close the Cuba-based camp and had given himself one year to achieve this.
However, with officials still trying to work out what to do with about 215 inmates still at the camp, he admitted in November that a 22 January deadline had slipped to later in 2010.However, with officials still trying to work out what to do with about 215 inmates still at the camp, he admitted in November that a 22 January deadline had slipped to later in 2010.
THOMSON CORRECTIONAL CENTER Built 2001Adult male prison Only minimum-security section operatingNo date for opening maximum-security sectionMaximum-security capacity: 1,600Minimum-security capacity: 200Average daily population: 144 Source: Illinois Department of Corrections class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8413432.stm">Illinois' "super-max" jail 'Step forward'
"Today's announcement is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objective," a US official said in a statement.
"Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda."
THOMSON CORRECTIONAL CENTER Built 2001Adult male prison Only minimum-security section operatingNo date for opening maximum-security sectionMaximum-security capacity: 1,600Minimum-security capacity: 200Average daily population: 144 Source: Illinois Department of Corrections Illinois' Thomson jail
The White House is expected to make an official announcement confirming the decision later on Tuesday.
The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Washington, says that the prison transfer might go some way to addressing the problem of Guantanamo but it will not solve it.
Our correspondent adds that European nations - who have until now taken the attitude that if the US will not house the detainees, they will not either - may be softening their stance to accept small numbers of prisoners.
The near-empty Thomson prison, about 150 miles (240km) from Chicago, was promoted as an alternative by Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.The near-empty Thomson prison, about 150 miles (240km) from Chicago, was promoted as an alternative by Illinois Senator Richard Durbin.
Sen Durbin and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn are expected to be briefed by White House officials about the announcement on Tuesday, the Associated Press news agency reported. The prison, built in 2001, has the capacity for 1,600 inmates, but due to budget constraints only houses 200 prisoners.
The Thomson prison, built in 2001, has the capacity for 1,600 inmates, but due to budget constraints only houses 200 prisoners. It would be sold to the Federal Bureau of Prisons and then part of it leased to the Department of Defense, reports say.
It would be sold to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and then part of it leased to the Department of Defense, reports say.
Federal prisoners would be held at the facility, as well as the former Guantanamo inmates, officials said.Federal prisoners would be held at the facility, as well as the former Guantanamo inmates, officials said.
"Closing the detention centre at Guantanamo is essential to protecting our national security and helping our troops by removing a deadly recruiting tool from the hands of al-Qaeda," a US official said in a statement.
"[Tuesday's] announcement is an important step forward as we work to achieve our national security objectives."
Of the remaining Guantanamo inmates, some are expected to be sent to other countries, while others could face military tribunals or be tried in US courts.Of the remaining Guantanamo inmates, some are expected to be sent to other countries, while others could face military tribunals or be tried in US courts.
Prisons in Colorado, Montana and elsewhere in Illinois had expressed an interest in housing Guantanamo inmates.Prisons in Colorado, Montana and elsewhere in Illinois had expressed an interest in housing Guantanamo inmates.